COA Study Guide with Complete
Solutions
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history. - ANSWER-Chief complaint,
present illness, past ocular history, ocular medications, general medical and surgical
history, systemic medications, allergies, social history, and family history.
Why is it important to specifically ask a patient about the medications they are taking? -
ANSWER-Because certain medications may affect the eyes.
What is the proper response to a patient's request from the ophthalmic technician for
medical advice or a diagnosis? - ANSWER-Refer the patient to the ophthalmologist
What is the term used for the reason for the patient's visit? - ANSWER-Chief complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - ANSWER-Smoking, alcohol, and
drug use
Prior use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents is part of a patient's ________. -
ANSWER-Past ocular history
Pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? - ANSWER-Parents,
grandparents, and genetic siblings
A patient describing an experience of getting hives after taking sulfa drugs is providing
information about __________. - ANSWER-An allergic reaction
What is the term for the spasmodic, rhythmic dilating, and contracting pupillary
movements during pupil function testing? - ANSWER-Hippus
What is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent pupillary defect? -
ANSWER-Swinging flashlight test
Which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - ANSWER-Sphincter
What is pupil dilation termed? - ANSWER-Mydriasis
What is the term used when there is a difference in pupil size? - ANSWER-Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - ANSWER-The measurement of pupillary diameters.
,What is the name of the reflexive reaction that occurs when a light is directed into one
pupil and the pupil of the opposite eye simultaneously reacts - ANSWER-Consensual
pupillary reaction
Calibration of the applanation tonometer should be checked approximately every _____
months. - ANSWER-Two (or sooner with regular use)
When recording prism in a spectacle Rx, what does the abbreviation BO stand for? -
ANSWER-Base out
What is determined by focusing the thin lines in a manual lensometer? - ANSWER-The
sphere of the spectacle Rx is determined by the thin lines.
What is the first step in performing lensometry? - ANSWER-Focus the eyepiece.
When cleaning the goniolens, what is uses to rinse off the methycellulose? - ANSWER-
Warm running water
When replacing a light bulb _____ can diminish its effectiveness and life. - ANSWER-Oil
from fingers
Diagnostic lenses that contact the eye can be sterilized using? - ANSWER-Ethylene
Oxide gas
How should the removable glass slides inside the American Optical acuity projector be
cleaned? - ANSWER-Wipe with clean, soft lint-free towel or photographic lens paper
If dust accumulates on the mirror of the slit lamp, the technician may clean it by using
what cleaning methods? - ANSWER-A lint-free cloth, a lens brush, or a blast of air
Who should repair and maintain equipment such as a laser? - ANSWER-A qualified
service technician.
Which accessories are used to check the calibration of an
ophthalmometer/keratometer? - ANSWER-Three test balls made of steel also called
"Lensco Meter"
What should be used to clean the accessible lenses of a phoropter? - ANSWER-
Photographic lens cleaner and lens tissue
What size letters (optotypes) are typically used to calibrate visual acuity projectors? -
ANSWER-20/200
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? - ANSWER-Lensometer
(Lensmeter)
, How many meridians are measured in keratometry? - ANSWER-2 meridians (usually 90
degrees apart)
The average K reading is _____. - ANSWER-43 to 44 diopters
Keratometry measures the _______ of the anterior curvature of the cornea. - ANSWER-
Central 3.3 mm
If you cannot center the thick and thin lines in the lensometer, the lens has _______. -
ANSWER-Ground-in prism.
Each black ring seen in the lensometer eyepiece reticle measures how much prism? -
ANSWER-1 diopter for each ring
When performing lensometry, what is indicated if both thin and wide lines are in focus at
the same time? - ANSWER-The lens is spherical.
What is the technique used to measure the radius of curvature of the anterior corneal
surface? - ANSWER-A-Scan Keratometry Length Measurements
Keratometry is performed with a device called a ______. - ANSWER-Keratometer or
ophthalmometer
Give three examples in which a keratometry measurement would be useful. - ANSWER-
Contact lens fitting, refractive surgery, intra ocular lens calculations, keratoconus
Keratometry is measured in _______. - ANSWER-Diopters
An unfocused eyepiece can lead to an error of _______. - ANSWER-1 diopter in the K
reading
The diffusion of oxygen through a contact lens material is referred to as _______. -
ANSWER-DK value
True or false: The application and evaluation of diagnostic lens on the eye is the best
way to fit a contact lens. - ANSWER-True
Name the instrument used to determine the posterior surface radius of curvature of the
rigid contact lens? - ANSWER-Radiuscope and or Contacto Gauge
Name three reasons to dispense a therapeutic bandage contact lens. - ANSWER-To
protect cornea from eyelids and eyelashes, to promote corneal healing, to provide
comfort, to stop wound leaks, to improve vision, or for drug delivery.
Solutions
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history. - ANSWER-Chief complaint,
present illness, past ocular history, ocular medications, general medical and surgical
history, systemic medications, allergies, social history, and family history.
Why is it important to specifically ask a patient about the medications they are taking? -
ANSWER-Because certain medications may affect the eyes.
What is the proper response to a patient's request from the ophthalmic technician for
medical advice or a diagnosis? - ANSWER-Refer the patient to the ophthalmologist
What is the term used for the reason for the patient's visit? - ANSWER-Chief complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - ANSWER-Smoking, alcohol, and
drug use
Prior use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents is part of a patient's ________. -
ANSWER-Past ocular history
Pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? - ANSWER-Parents,
grandparents, and genetic siblings
A patient describing an experience of getting hives after taking sulfa drugs is providing
information about __________. - ANSWER-An allergic reaction
What is the term for the spasmodic, rhythmic dilating, and contracting pupillary
movements during pupil function testing? - ANSWER-Hippus
What is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent pupillary defect? -
ANSWER-Swinging flashlight test
Which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - ANSWER-Sphincter
What is pupil dilation termed? - ANSWER-Mydriasis
What is the term used when there is a difference in pupil size? - ANSWER-Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - ANSWER-The measurement of pupillary diameters.
,What is the name of the reflexive reaction that occurs when a light is directed into one
pupil and the pupil of the opposite eye simultaneously reacts - ANSWER-Consensual
pupillary reaction
Calibration of the applanation tonometer should be checked approximately every _____
months. - ANSWER-Two (or sooner with regular use)
When recording prism in a spectacle Rx, what does the abbreviation BO stand for? -
ANSWER-Base out
What is determined by focusing the thin lines in a manual lensometer? - ANSWER-The
sphere of the spectacle Rx is determined by the thin lines.
What is the first step in performing lensometry? - ANSWER-Focus the eyepiece.
When cleaning the goniolens, what is uses to rinse off the methycellulose? - ANSWER-
Warm running water
When replacing a light bulb _____ can diminish its effectiveness and life. - ANSWER-Oil
from fingers
Diagnostic lenses that contact the eye can be sterilized using? - ANSWER-Ethylene
Oxide gas
How should the removable glass slides inside the American Optical acuity projector be
cleaned? - ANSWER-Wipe with clean, soft lint-free towel or photographic lens paper
If dust accumulates on the mirror of the slit lamp, the technician may clean it by using
what cleaning methods? - ANSWER-A lint-free cloth, a lens brush, or a blast of air
Who should repair and maintain equipment such as a laser? - ANSWER-A qualified
service technician.
Which accessories are used to check the calibration of an
ophthalmometer/keratometer? - ANSWER-Three test balls made of steel also called
"Lensco Meter"
What should be used to clean the accessible lenses of a phoropter? - ANSWER-
Photographic lens cleaner and lens tissue
What size letters (optotypes) are typically used to calibrate visual acuity projectors? -
ANSWER-20/200
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? - ANSWER-Lensometer
(Lensmeter)
, How many meridians are measured in keratometry? - ANSWER-2 meridians (usually 90
degrees apart)
The average K reading is _____. - ANSWER-43 to 44 diopters
Keratometry measures the _______ of the anterior curvature of the cornea. - ANSWER-
Central 3.3 mm
If you cannot center the thick and thin lines in the lensometer, the lens has _______. -
ANSWER-Ground-in prism.
Each black ring seen in the lensometer eyepiece reticle measures how much prism? -
ANSWER-1 diopter for each ring
When performing lensometry, what is indicated if both thin and wide lines are in focus at
the same time? - ANSWER-The lens is spherical.
What is the technique used to measure the radius of curvature of the anterior corneal
surface? - ANSWER-A-Scan Keratometry Length Measurements
Keratometry is performed with a device called a ______. - ANSWER-Keratometer or
ophthalmometer
Give three examples in which a keratometry measurement would be useful. - ANSWER-
Contact lens fitting, refractive surgery, intra ocular lens calculations, keratoconus
Keratometry is measured in _______. - ANSWER-Diopters
An unfocused eyepiece can lead to an error of _______. - ANSWER-1 diopter in the K
reading
The diffusion of oxygen through a contact lens material is referred to as _______. -
ANSWER-DK value
True or false: The application and evaluation of diagnostic lens on the eye is the best
way to fit a contact lens. - ANSWER-True
Name the instrument used to determine the posterior surface radius of curvature of the
rigid contact lens? - ANSWER-Radiuscope and or Contacto Gauge
Name three reasons to dispense a therapeutic bandage contact lens. - ANSWER-To
protect cornea from eyelids and eyelashes, to promote corneal healing, to provide
comfort, to stop wound leaks, to improve vision, or for drug delivery.
