Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

True or False: A prism can be oriented in any direction to meet a patient's needs.

1. True

2. False

3. Only vertically

4. Only horizontally

The correct answer is: True

The statement is true because prisms are versatile optical devices that can indeed be oriented in any direction to address a patient's specific visual requirements. This ability allows practitioners to manipulate light in ways that can aid in various vision conditions, such as strabismus or double vision. When a prism is placed in front of the eyes, its orientation can significantly affect the direction in which the light is bent, allowing it to create the necessary optical adjustments. For example, a prism can be positioned vertically to help with vertical misalignments or horizontally for horizontal misalignments. The flexibility in orientation is fundamental for tailoring visual aids to individual patient needs, making the true statement accurate in this context.