Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) – Comprehensive Exam Review Practice Questions and
Study Guide
A history is obtained by:
a. asking a series of organized & specific questions
b. observing the patient's actions in the exam room
c. allowing the patient to discuss anything he or she wishes
d. asking the same question of each patient during every exam - ✔✔A. asking a series of
organized & specific questions
The history should be recorded:
a. by writing down the patient's entire story, word-for-word
b. by condensing the patient's story, including pertinent facts
c. by interpreting the patient's story & suggesting a diagnosis
d. by copying patient information from a questionnaire - ✔✔B. by condensing the patient's
story, including pertinent facts
When taking a history on a school-aged child, it is important to:
a. listen only to the parent's account of the illness
b. listen only to the child's account of the illness
c. talk to the parent outside of the child's hearing
d. get an account of the illness from both the parent & child - ✔✔D. get an account of the
illness from both the parent & child
Which of the following statements if false?
a. A thorough history can direct a physician toward a final diagnosis.
b. All information given by the patient can be shred with insurance companies without patient
permission.
,c. Statements made by the patient should lead the assistant into additional questions that can
be asked.
d. All patient information is private unless a consent release from is signed. - ✔✔B. All
information given by the patient can be shred with insurance companies without patient
permission.
Which of the following is not a part of a history?
a. presenting complaint
b. medications currently used
c. family eye disease
d. visual acuity - ✔✔D. visual acuity
The "presenting complaint" is:
a. the main reason that the patient has come to the office
b. always the most serious of the patient's many complaints
c. the only item with which the history is really concerned
d. the main reason the patient should be dilated - ✔✔A. the main reason that the patient has
come to the office
An example of a question relating to onset would be:
a. "Can you still function at work?"
b. "When did you first notice the problem?"
c. "What treatment have you tried?"
d. "Has the problem worsened?" - ✔✔B. "When did you first notice the problem?"
The question "Does your head hurt so badly that you have to leave school early?" relates to:
a. onset
, b. duration
c. progression
d. severity - ✔✔D. severity
To obtain the most important information about the presenting complaint, you should ask
questions relating to:
a. location, timing, aggravating & alleviating factors, & family history
b. location, quality, severity, timing, & aggravating & alleviating factors
c. location, severity, timing, drug allergies, & past surgical procedures
d. present illness, past ocular history, family history, & description of pain - ✔✔B. location,
quality, severity, timing, & aggravating & alleviating factors
A symptom is:
a. something you notice when you look at the patient
b. something that can always be tested & proven
c. a change noticed by the patient
d. any change that results from injury - ✔✔C. a change noticed by the patient
An example of a sign is:
a. the patient tells you what part of the eye hurts
b. an elevated intraocular pressure reading
c. the patient complains of blurred vision
d. the patient complains of a pressure sensation behind the eyes - ✔✔B. an elevated
intraocular pressure reading
A 56-year-old patient complains of a sudden onset of double vision. It is most important to ask:
a. "Does the doubling go away if you cover one eye?"
Study Guide
A history is obtained by:
a. asking a series of organized & specific questions
b. observing the patient's actions in the exam room
c. allowing the patient to discuss anything he or she wishes
d. asking the same question of each patient during every exam - ✔✔A. asking a series of
organized & specific questions
The history should be recorded:
a. by writing down the patient's entire story, word-for-word
b. by condensing the patient's story, including pertinent facts
c. by interpreting the patient's story & suggesting a diagnosis
d. by copying patient information from a questionnaire - ✔✔B. by condensing the patient's
story, including pertinent facts
When taking a history on a school-aged child, it is important to:
a. listen only to the parent's account of the illness
b. listen only to the child's account of the illness
c. talk to the parent outside of the child's hearing
d. get an account of the illness from both the parent & child - ✔✔D. get an account of the
illness from both the parent & child
Which of the following statements if false?
a. A thorough history can direct a physician toward a final diagnosis.
b. All information given by the patient can be shred with insurance companies without patient
permission.
,c. Statements made by the patient should lead the assistant into additional questions that can
be asked.
d. All patient information is private unless a consent release from is signed. - ✔✔B. All
information given by the patient can be shred with insurance companies without patient
permission.
Which of the following is not a part of a history?
a. presenting complaint
b. medications currently used
c. family eye disease
d. visual acuity - ✔✔D. visual acuity
The "presenting complaint" is:
a. the main reason that the patient has come to the office
b. always the most serious of the patient's many complaints
c. the only item with which the history is really concerned
d. the main reason the patient should be dilated - ✔✔A. the main reason that the patient has
come to the office
An example of a question relating to onset would be:
a. "Can you still function at work?"
b. "When did you first notice the problem?"
c. "What treatment have you tried?"
d. "Has the problem worsened?" - ✔✔B. "When did you first notice the problem?"
The question "Does your head hurt so badly that you have to leave school early?" relates to:
a. onset
, b. duration
c. progression
d. severity - ✔✔D. severity
To obtain the most important information about the presenting complaint, you should ask
questions relating to:
a. location, timing, aggravating & alleviating factors, & family history
b. location, quality, severity, timing, & aggravating & alleviating factors
c. location, severity, timing, drug allergies, & past surgical procedures
d. present illness, past ocular history, family history, & description of pain - ✔✔B. location,
quality, severity, timing, & aggravating & alleviating factors
A symptom is:
a. something you notice when you look at the patient
b. something that can always be tested & proven
c. a change noticed by the patient
d. any change that results from injury - ✔✔C. a change noticed by the patient
An example of a sign is:
a. the patient tells you what part of the eye hurts
b. an elevated intraocular pressure reading
c. the patient complains of blurred vision
d. the patient complains of a pressure sensation behind the eyes - ✔✔B. an elevated
intraocular pressure reading
A 56-year-old patient complains of a sudden onset of double vision. It is most important to ask:
a. "Does the doubling go away if you cover one eye?"
