Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A decreased afferent pupillary response is indicative of a defect in the retina or optic nerve because it reflects an impairment in the transmission of visual signals from the eye to the brain. The afferent pupillary response involves a reflex where light directed into one eye should cause both pupils to constrict. When there is a defect in the retina or optic nerve of one eye, the affected eye may have a diminished response to light, leading to the pupils responding differently when light is shone in that eye compared to the unaffected eye.

Normal optic function would show a normal afferent pupillary response, while obstruction of the visual pathway might not specifically lead to a decreased response, as it could depend on the site and nature of the obstruction. Strabismus, which refers to misalignment of the eyes, does not directly relate to afferent pupillary response, as it pertains more to eye muscle control and visual coordination rather than the integrity of the visual pathway itself.