Certified Retinal Angiographer (CRA) Exam
150 Questions with Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales in Italics.
The Certified Retinal Angiographer (CRA) credential, offered by the Ophthalmic
Photographers' Society (OPS) Board of Certification, is the most esteemed certification in
ophthalmic imaging . Candidates must pass a rigorous written examination and submit a
portfolio demonstrating proficiency in fundus photography and retinal angiography .
Eligibility requires a minimum of two years of experience and current CPR certification .
Certification must be renewed every three years through continuing education .
SECTION 1: OCULAR ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY &
TERMINOLOGY
1. What is the medical term for the eyeball?
A) Orbit
B) Globe
C) Lens
D) Sclera
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The medical term for the eyeball is "globe." The orbit is the bony socket that
contains the globe. The sclera is the white outer layer of the eye, and the lens is the
internal focusing structure .
2. The term "palpebral" or "blepharo" refers to which structure?
, A) Cornea
B) Retina
C) Eyelids
D) Lens
Answer: C ✅
Rationale: "Palpebral" and "blepharo" both refer to the eyelids. These terms are used in
describing external ocular structures and conditions affecting the eyelids .
3. Which structures are considered part of the anterior segment of the eye? (Select
all that apply)
A) Lens
B) Vitreous humor
C) Cornea
D) Iris
Answer: A, C, D ✅
Rationale: The anterior segment includes the structures anterior to the vitreous humor:
lens, cornea, and iris. The posterior segment includes the retina, choroid, and vitreous
humor .
4. Which muscle elevates the eyelid?
A) Orbicularis oculi
B) Levator palpebrae superioris
C) Superior rectus
D) Frontalis
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The levator palpebrae superioris muscle is responsible for elevating the upper
eyelid. Orbicularis oculi closes the eyelid, the superior rectus moves the eye upward, and
the frontalis raises the brow .
, 5. "Adnexa" of the eye refers to:
A) Retina and optic nerve
B) Supporting structures around the eye including eyelids, muscles, and tear glands
C) Cornea and lens
D) Vitreous and choroid
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The ocular adnexa are the supporting structures around the eye, including the
eyelids, extraocular muscles, lacrimal (tear) glands, and orbital fat .
6. Which ocular structure provides the majority of the eye's refractive power?
A) Retina
B) Cornea
C) Lens
D) Vitreous
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The cornea provides approximately 66–75% of the eye's refractive power due to
its curved, transparent structure. The lens provides the remaining accommodation for near
focusing .
7. When light passes from air into the cornea, what change occurs to the light's
path?
A) It speeds up and bends away from the normal
B) It slows down and bends toward the normal
C) It maintains speed but changes direction randomly
D) It reflects entirely back into the air
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: When light passes from a less dense medium (air) into a denser medium
(cornea), it slows down and bends toward the normal—a phenomenon governed by Snell's
law .
, 8. What is the foveal avascular zone (FAZ)?
A) High capillary density area
B) Area in the central retina devoid of blood vessels
C) Presence of large retinal arteries
D) Dense choroidal vessels
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is an area in the central retina that contains no
blood vessels, which facilitates high-acuity vision by minimizing light scatter from blood
cells .
9. Which retinal layer is primarily responsible for transmitting visual signals from
photoreceptors to the brain?
A) Inner nuclear layer
B) Ganglion cell layer
C) Outer plexiform layer
D) Retinal pigment epithelium
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The ganglion cell layer contains the cell bodies of retinal ganglion cells whose
axons form the optic nerve, transmitting visual information to the brain .
10. Which ocular layer is responsible for receiving light signals initially?
A) Ganglion cell layer
B) Photoreceptor layer
C) Outer plexiform layer
D) Inner nuclear layer
150 Questions with Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales in Italics.
The Certified Retinal Angiographer (CRA) credential, offered by the Ophthalmic
Photographers' Society (OPS) Board of Certification, is the most esteemed certification in
ophthalmic imaging . Candidates must pass a rigorous written examination and submit a
portfolio demonstrating proficiency in fundus photography and retinal angiography .
Eligibility requires a minimum of two years of experience and current CPR certification .
Certification must be renewed every three years through continuing education .
SECTION 1: OCULAR ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY &
TERMINOLOGY
1. What is the medical term for the eyeball?
A) Orbit
B) Globe
C) Lens
D) Sclera
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The medical term for the eyeball is "globe." The orbit is the bony socket that
contains the globe. The sclera is the white outer layer of the eye, and the lens is the
internal focusing structure .
2. The term "palpebral" or "blepharo" refers to which structure?
, A) Cornea
B) Retina
C) Eyelids
D) Lens
Answer: C ✅
Rationale: "Palpebral" and "blepharo" both refer to the eyelids. These terms are used in
describing external ocular structures and conditions affecting the eyelids .
3. Which structures are considered part of the anterior segment of the eye? (Select
all that apply)
A) Lens
B) Vitreous humor
C) Cornea
D) Iris
Answer: A, C, D ✅
Rationale: The anterior segment includes the structures anterior to the vitreous humor:
lens, cornea, and iris. The posterior segment includes the retina, choroid, and vitreous
humor .
4. Which muscle elevates the eyelid?
A) Orbicularis oculi
B) Levator palpebrae superioris
C) Superior rectus
D) Frontalis
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The levator palpebrae superioris muscle is responsible for elevating the upper
eyelid. Orbicularis oculi closes the eyelid, the superior rectus moves the eye upward, and
the frontalis raises the brow .
, 5. "Adnexa" of the eye refers to:
A) Retina and optic nerve
B) Supporting structures around the eye including eyelids, muscles, and tear glands
C) Cornea and lens
D) Vitreous and choroid
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The ocular adnexa are the supporting structures around the eye, including the
eyelids, extraocular muscles, lacrimal (tear) glands, and orbital fat .
6. Which ocular structure provides the majority of the eye's refractive power?
A) Retina
B) Cornea
C) Lens
D) Vitreous
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The cornea provides approximately 66–75% of the eye's refractive power due to
its curved, transparent structure. The lens provides the remaining accommodation for near
focusing .
7. When light passes from air into the cornea, what change occurs to the light's
path?
A) It speeds up and bends away from the normal
B) It slows down and bends toward the normal
C) It maintains speed but changes direction randomly
D) It reflects entirely back into the air
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: When light passes from a less dense medium (air) into a denser medium
(cornea), it slows down and bends toward the normal—a phenomenon governed by Snell's
law .
, 8. What is the foveal avascular zone (FAZ)?
A) High capillary density area
B) Area in the central retina devoid of blood vessels
C) Presence of large retinal arteries
D) Dense choroidal vessels
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is an area in the central retina that contains no
blood vessels, which facilitates high-acuity vision by minimizing light scatter from blood
cells .
9. Which retinal layer is primarily responsible for transmitting visual signals from
photoreceptors to the brain?
A) Inner nuclear layer
B) Ganglion cell layer
C) Outer plexiform layer
D) Retinal pigment epithelium
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: The ganglion cell layer contains the cell bodies of retinal ganglion cells whose
axons form the optic nerve, transmitting visual information to the brain .
10. Which ocular layer is responsible for receiving light signals initially?
A) Ganglion cell layer
B) Photoreceptor layer
C) Outer plexiform layer
D) Inner nuclear layer
