Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Which instrument is commonly used for kinetic perimetry?

1. Tangent screen

2. Digital camera

3. Visual acuity chart

4. Optical coherence tomographer

The correct answer is: Tangent screen

Kinetic perimetry is a method used to map the visual field by assessing the sensitivity of vision at various points within that field. The tangent screen is a device specifically designed for this purpose. It consists of a flat surface where visual stimuli can be presented at different locations and distances from the fixation point. The patient is typically instructed to indicate when they can see a moving target on the screen, allowing a clinician to determine the extent and sensitivity of the visual field. While the digital camera, visual acuity chart, and optical coherence tomographer are important tools in ophthalmology and optometry, they serve different functions. A digital camera captures images of the fundus or eye structures, a visual acuity chart measures the sharpness of vision, and the optical coherence tomographer provides detailed images of the retina and its layers. These instruments do not measure visual field sensitivity in the way that kinetic perimetry aims to. Hence, the tangent screen is recognized as the commonly used instrument for conducting kinetic perimetry tests.