Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Which condition is characterized by a deficiency of both red and green color perception?

1. Deuteranopia

2. Protanopia

3. Tritanopia

4. Color blindness

The correct answer is: Protanopia

The condition characterized by a deficiency of both red and green color perception is protanopia. This particular type of color blindness affects the photoreceptors in the retina that are sensitive to red wavelengths. Individuals with protanopia have difficulty distinguishing between red and green hues, as the red cones (which are responsible for red light detection) are either absent or not functioning properly. In contrast, deuteranopia also affects red and green color perception, but the underlying cause is related to a deficiency in the green photoreceptors. Tritanopia, on the other hand, relates to a deficiency in blue-yellow color perception. While "color blindness" is a broader term that includes various types of color vision deficiencies, it does not specify any particular deficiency like protanopia does. Hence, the other conditions and definitions highlight different aspects of color vision deficiencies, but protanopia specifically pertains to the absence of red perception alongside a challenge in discerning green, solidifying its classification as the correct answer.