Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What might you observe in a patient with damage to the optic nerve head during a visual field test?

1. Increased field of view

2. Scotoma

3. Clear central vision

4. Normal color perception

The correct answer is: Scotoma

In a patient with damage to the optic nerve head, a scotoma is often observed during a visual field test. A scotoma is a localized area of visual loss within the field of vision, which can occur because the optic nerve carries visual information from the retina to the brain. When there is damage to the optic nerve head, the transmission of visual signals can be disrupted, leading to areas of vision that are absent or reduced. The presence of a scotoma reflects the specific area of the retina that is affected by the damage to the optic nerve. This can manifest as a blind spot in the visual field corresponding to the location of the nerve damage. The detection of a scotoma during testing helps in diagnosing conditions such as glaucoma, optic neuritis, or other optic nerve pathologies, indicating the severity and location of the damage. Since the other options do not accurately describe the typical findings associated with damage to the optic nerve head, they are not supported by the clinical presentation seen in these patients. For instance, increased field of view would indicate an improvement or no involvement of the optic nerve pathways, while clear central vision and normal color perception typically suggest that the condition is not significantly affecting the central areas of vision or the color processing abilities