American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) Practice Exam

What optical principle involves the use of prisms to bend light?

1. Bioptic optics

2. Fresnel optics

3. Geometric optics

4. Wave optics

The correct answer is: Fresnel optics

The optical principle that involves the use of prisms to bend light is associated with Fresnel optics. Fresnel optics refers to the use of thin lens and prism systems that manipulate light through refraction. A prism works by bending (refracting) light as it passes through its surfaces, which is key in applications such as corrective lenses, binoculars, and various optical devices. Prisms take advantage of the principles outlined in Fresnel lens design, where their geometry allows for the manipulation of wavefronts. The bending of light enables various applications including color separation, image inversion, and directing light towards desired areas, which is particularly utilized in optical instruments and vision correction. The other choices, while related to optics, do not specifically represent the principle of using prisms to manipulate light. Bioptic optics and geometric optics concern broader principles of optical systems and vision correction techniques, while wave optics deals with phenomena associated with the wave nature of light, such as interference and diffraction. Thus, the unique interaction of prisms and their refractive properties align directly with Fresnel optics, confirming it as the correct choice.