Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What does an anhydrosis condition indicate in relation to Horner's Syndrome?

1. Absence of vision

2. Absence of sweating

3. Excessive sweating

4. Loss of color vision

The correct answer is: Absence of sweating

Anhidrosis refers to the inability to sweat, making it the correct answer in the context of Horner's Syndrome. This syndrome occurs due to damage to the sympathetic nerves supplying the eye and surrounding facial structures, leading to a classic triad of symptoms: ptosis (drooping eyelid), miosis (constricted pupil), and anhidrosis. In patients with Horner's Syndrome, the affected side of the face often experiences a reduced ability to sweat, leading to anhidrosis. This lack of sweating can affect the facial skin and the region around the eye, but it does not impact vision directly, which is why the other choices do not align with the condition's implications. Understanding Horner's Syndrome is key to recognizing the clinical manifestations, including anhidrosis. Therefore, the indication of anhydrosis is specifically linked to the disruption of sympathetic control over the sweat glands, highlighting its role in the syndrome's symptomatology.