Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Failure of a patient to respond to the brightest stimulus projected into an area previously determined to have some sensitivity is known as a what?

1. False negative response

2. Fixation loss

3. False positive response

4. Visual field artifact

The correct answer is: False negative response

The correct choice is known as a false negative response. In the context of visual field testing, a false negative occurs when a patient fails to acknowledge a stimulus that they should be able to see, indicating a potential issue with their visual field perception. This can happen even when the stimulus is presented with sufficient intensity or contrast, which was previously identified as within the patient's sensitivity range. When a test shows a false negative response, it raises concerns about the reliability of the patient’s visual field results. The patient might be distracted, not paying full attention, or could be experiencing other factors affecting their responsiveness. Understanding this concept is crucial for evaluating test accuracy and making proper assessments in clinical settings. In contrast, fixation loss refers to instances where a patient does not maintain focus on a target, potentially leading to misleading results. A false positive response is when the patient reports seeing a stimulus in an area that is actually non-responsive. Visual field artifact refers to irregularities or discrepancies in test results due to external factors or incorrect test administration. These distinctions highlight the importance of recognizing various response types in visual field assessments.