Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Which term describes the therapy method involving fogging the preferred eye with Bangerter foil?

1. Occlusive therapy

2. Penalization

3. Rehabilitative therapy

4. Elective therapy

The correct answer is: Penalization

The term that describes the therapy method involving fogging the preferred eye with Bangerter foil is penalization. This approach is commonly used in the treatment of amblyopia, where the goal is to reduce the visual acuity of the stronger eye, thereby encouraging and stimulating use of the weaker eye. By fogging the preferred eye, the patient is prompted to rely more on the eye with lower vision, helping to improve its function over time. This method selectively discourages vision in the stronger eye without completely occluding it, which distinguishes it from more traditional occlusion therapy that involves covering the preferred eye completely. In this context, it's important to understand that occlusive therapy generally involves a complete block of vision in the stronger eye, while rehabilitative therapy refers to a broader range of techniques aimed at improving functioning beyond just the visual acuity aspect. Elective therapy is not a commonly used term in ophthalmology and does not specifically relate to the treatments for amblyopia or the use of Bangerter foil.