Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam

Tonometry is the test commonly used to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). This measurement is crucial in the evaluation of eye health, particularly in the detection and management of glaucoma. Tonometry assesses the pressure inside the eye by determining how resistant the cornea is to an applied force.

The technique can vary, but it usually involves applying a small amount of pressure to the eye with specialized instruments to obtain a numerical value representing IOP. Accurately measuring intraocular pressure helps eye care professionals diagnose and monitor conditions that could lead to vision loss, such as glaucoma, which is characterized by elevated IOP.

In contrast, the other tests listed serve different purposes. The visual acuity test assesses how well a person can see at various distances and does not provide any information about intraocular pressure. The refraction test evaluates the need for corrective lenses by measuring how light is focused in the eye, while pachymetry measures the thickness of the cornea, which can also be relevant in assessing glaucoma risk but does not directly measure intraocular pressure. Thus, tonometry stands out as the established method for IOP measurement, making it the appropriate choice.