Certified Ophthalmic Technician Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The condition characterized by clouding of the lens leading to decreased vision is cataract. Cataracts develop when proteins in the lens of the eye break down and clump together, resulting in a cloudy area that impairs the passage of light through the lens. This can lead to blurred or distorted vision, increased difficulty with night vision, and sensitivity to glare. As the cataract progresses, it can significantly interfere with daily activities and quality of life.

In contrast, macular degeneration primarily affects the central portion of the retina (the macula), leading to loss of central vision, but it does not involve the lens. Retinal detachment is a condition where the retina separates from its underlying supportive tissue, which can also cause vision loss, but again, it is not related to clouding of the lens. Glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve, often associated with increased intraocular pressure, leading to peripheral vision loss primarily, rather than cloudiness in the lens itself. Each of these conditions affects vision in different ways, but cataracts specifically result from lens opacification.