Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Paralysis of the ciliary muscle is a characteristic of what class of ocular preparations?

1. Sympathomimetics

2. Antimuscarinics

3. Parasympatholytic agents

4. Cholinergic agents

The correct answer is: Parasympatholytic agents

The paralysis of the ciliary muscle is specifically associated with agents that block or inhibit the action of the parasympathetic nervous system. These are known as parasympatholytic agents, which act by antagonizing the effects of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors. The ciliary muscle is responsible for regulating the shape of the lens for accommodation; when it is paralyzed, accommodation is impaired, leading to difficulty in focusing on near objects. In contrast, sympathomimetics primarily stimulate adrenergic receptors and do not produce paralysis of the ciliary muscle. Antimuscarinics also act on the same muscarinic receptors, but they are more generalized in their effects and are often highlighted in terms of their cardiovascular or respiratory applications rather than specifically causing paralysis of the ciliary muscle. Cholinergic agents, on the other hand, activate the parasympathetic system and would result in the opposite effect—constriction of the ciliary muscle and enhanced accommodation. This reinforces the understanding that parasympatholytic agents are indeed responsible for the paralysis of the ciliary muscle, making them the correct classification in this scenario.