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

The term "alternate cover testing" is primarily used to assess eye alignment during fixation. This test is essential in detecting strabismus, which is a misalignment of the eyes. During the test, one eye is covered while the other eye is fixated on a target. When the cover is switched from one eye to the other, any movement of the uncovered eye indicates a deviation or misalignment.

If the eye that was covered moves to establish fixation on the target, it suggests that the eyes are not properly aligned when both are attempting to fixate together. Therefore, alternate cover testing effectively measures how well the eyes work together and helps in determining any need for further evaluation or intervention regarding eye alignment issues.

Other choices pertain to different aspects of vision assessment. Eye refractive error is determined through refraction tests, visual field sensitivity pertains to the central and peripheral vision capabilities, and color vision accuracy is assessed using color vision tests. Each of these areas involves distinct testing methodologies that do not directly relate to the assessment of eye alignment, confirming the focus of alternate cover testing is specifically on how the eyes align when both are in use for fixation tasks.