Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

Floaters in the eye are primarily caused by what?

1. Fragile blood vessels

2. Debris in tears and fluid inside the eye

3. Thickening of connective tissue

4. Mechanical stimulation

The correct answer is: Debris in tears and fluid inside the eye

Floaters in the eye are primarily caused by debris in the tears and fluid inside the eye. As the vitreous gel, which fills the eye, becomes more liquefied with age or due to other factors, tiny particles and clumps of collagen can form within it. These particles cast shadows on the retina as light passes through the eye, leading to the visual phenomenon known as floaters. This is a common occurrence, especially as individuals age, and is generally considered benign unless associated with other eye problems. The other choices refer to conditions and processes that are not the main contributors to floaters. Fragile blood vessels can lead to bleeding in the eye, which may create spots or shadows, but this is not the typical cause of floaters as experienced by most people. Thickening of connective tissue might be related to other eye issues but does not directly result in the debris that leads to floaters. Mechanical stimulation could refer to interactions affecting the eye but does not address the underlying formation of floaters related to particles in the vitreous.