Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

In a tritanopia defect, which color is absent?

1. Red

2. Green

3. Blue

4. Yellow

The correct answer is: Blue

In a tritanopia defect, the absence of blue is a defining characteristic. This condition is a type of color vision deficiency where individuals have difficulty distinguishing between blue and yellow hues. Tritanopia occurs due to the absence of the photoreceptors sensitive to short wavelengths of light, which are primarily responsible for detecting blue colors. As a result, people with this defect may confuse blue with other colors, but they do not perceive blue at all, leading to a significant alteration in their color perception. Understanding tritanopia is essential for comprehending the broader spectrum of color vision deficiencies and how they impact daily life. This condition, distinct from red-green color deficiencies, highlights the complexity of human vision and the specific roles that different cone cells play in color perception.