Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What common condition may be treated with anti-VEGF drugs like Lucentis and Avastin?

1. Dry eye syndrome

2. Conjunctivitis

3. Wet macular degeneration

4. Cataracts

The correct answer is: Wet macular degeneration

Anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) drugs, such as Lucentis and Avastin, are specifically utilized to treat conditions that involve abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, which is particularly common in wet forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Wet macular degeneration is characterized by the growth of new, often leaky blood vessels under the retina, leading to vision loss. These medications work by inhibiting the action of VEGF, a protein that promotes the growth of these abnormal vessels. By blocking VEGF, anti-VEGF drugs help to reduce the edema and leakage from the abnormal blood vessels, thereby preserving vision and potentially improving visual acuity in affected individuals. In contrast, conditions such as dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, and cataracts do not involve this mechanism of abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Dry eye syndrome typically relates to insufficient tear production or poor tear quality, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva usually due to infection or allergy, and cataracts involve clouding of the eye's lens, which does not involve the vascular processes that anti-VEGF drugs target. Thus, the appropriate application of these treatments is specifically for wet macular degeneration, making it the correct answer