Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

With advancements in programming, automated perimetry is considered more subjective or objective, and why?

1. Objective; it precisely measures stimulus response

2. Subjective; it relies on patient comprehension and responses

3. Objective; it requires no patient interaction

4. Subjective; it uses automated systems for assessment

The correct answer is: Subjective; it relies on patient comprehension and responses

Automated perimetry is regarded as subjective because the process fundamentally relies on the patient's ability to comprehend and respond to visual stimuli presented during the examination. Although the technology itself is advanced and employs algorithms to project visual targets, it is the patient's perception and acknowledgment of those stimuli that determines the outcome of the test. Each patient's visual field response is dependent not only on their vision but also on their understanding of the task and their ability to communicate their responses, which introduces an element of subjectivity into the process. While the automation of perimetry has improved its efficiency and consistency, which may give the impression of objectivity, the human factor remains crucial. Factors such as attention, fatigue, visual perception, and comprehension of instructions can all affect the results. Therefore, despite advancements in programming and technology, the reliance on the patient's input firmly categorizes automated perimetry as a subjective measurement of visual fields.