Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

What plays a significant role in the emergence of visual disturbances known as flashes?

1. Fluid inside the eye

2. Debris on the retina

3. Corneal thickness

4. Age-related changes in the eye

The correct answer is: Fluid inside the eye

The emergence of visual disturbances known as flashes is primarily attributed to the interactions involving the fluid inside the eye, particularly the vitreous humor. As we age or in the presence of certain ocular conditions, the vitreous can begin to shrink and pull away from the retina. This process often leads to photoreceptor stimulation, which results in the perception of flashes of light. The presence of the vitreous gel and its dynamic changes are essential in understanding why flashes occur, as these changes can cause traction on the retina, triggering visual disturbances. The other factors mentioned, such as debris on the retina, corneal thickness, and age-related changes, do play roles in various visual disturbances but do not specifically account for the phenomenon of flashes as directly as the dynamics of the vitreous fluid do.