Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Temporal wedge defects are often associated with which anatomical area?

1. The optic nerve

2. The retina

3. The macula

4. The cornea

The correct answer is: The optic nerve

Temporal wedge defects are primarily associated with the anatomical area of the optic nerve. These defects typically occur due to damage or dysfunction in the optic nerve pathways, often related to conditions that impact the optic nerve such as glaucoma or optic neuritis. In these cases, the visual field loss manifests as a wedge-shaped area that affects temporal vision, leading to a characteristic pattern of peripheral vision loss. Understanding this relation to the optic nerve is essential because it helps in diagnosing and managing visual field defects that indicate potential underlying neurological or ocular diseases. The other anatomical areas listed, such as the retina, macula, and cornea, primarily have different implications in terms of visual field defects. While they may present different patterns of defects, the specific association of temporal wedge defects is most strongly linked to the optic nerve.