COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔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? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔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? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Refer the patient to the ophthalmologist
What is the term used for the reason for the patient's visit? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔Chief complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔Smoking, alcohol, and drug use
Prior use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents is part of a patient's
________. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Past ocular history
Pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Parents, grandparents, and genetic siblings
,COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
A patient describing an experience of getting hives after taking sulfa
drugs is providing information about __________. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔An allergic reaction
What is the term for the spasmodic, rhythmic dilating, and contracting
pupillary movements during pupil function testing? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔Hippus
What is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent
pupillary defect? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Swinging flashlight test
Which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Sphincter
What is pupil dilation termed? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Mydriasis
What is the term used when there is a difference in pupil size? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔The measurement
of pupillary diameters.
,COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
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 - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Consensual
pupillary reaction
Calibration of the applanation tonometer should be checked
approximately every _____ months. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Two
(or sooner with regular use)
When cleaning the goniolens, what is uses to rinse off the
methycellulose? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Warm running water
When replacing a light bulb _____ can diminish its effectiveness and
life. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Oil from fingers
Diagnostic lenses that contact the eye can be sterilized using? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Ethylene Oxide gas
How should the removable glass slides inside the American Optical
acuity projector be cleaned? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Wipe with
clean, soft lint-free towel or photographic lens paper
, COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
If dust accumulates on the mirror of the slit lamp, the technician may
clean it by using what cleaning methods? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔A lint-free cloth, a lens brush, or a blast of air
Who should repair and maintain equipment such as a laser? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔A qualified service technician.
Which accessories are used to check the calibration of an
ophthalmometer/keratometer? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Three
test balls made of steel also called "Lensco Meter"
What should be used to clean the accessible lenses of a phoropter? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Photographic lens cleaner and lens tissue
What size letters (optotypes) are typically used to calibrate visual acuity
projectors? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔20/200
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Lensometer (Lensmeter)
When recording prism in a spectacle Rx, what does the abbreviation BO
stand for? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Base out
2025/2026
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔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? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔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? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Refer the patient to the ophthalmologist
What is the term used for the reason for the patient's visit? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔Chief complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔Smoking, alcohol, and drug use
Prior use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents is part of a patient's
________. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Past ocular history
Pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Parents, grandparents, and genetic siblings
,COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
A patient describing an experience of getting hives after taking sulfa
drugs is providing information about __________. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔An allergic reaction
What is the term for the spasmodic, rhythmic dilating, and contracting
pupillary movements during pupil function testing? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔Hippus
What is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent
pupillary defect? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Swinging flashlight test
Which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Sphincter
What is pupil dilation termed? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Mydriasis
What is the term used when there is a difference in pupil size? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔The measurement
of pupillary diameters.
,COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
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 - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Consensual
pupillary reaction
Calibration of the applanation tonometer should be checked
approximately every _____ months. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Two
(or sooner with regular use)
When cleaning the goniolens, what is uses to rinse off the
methycellulose? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Warm running water
When replacing a light bulb _____ can diminish its effectiveness and
life. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Oil from fingers
Diagnostic lenses that contact the eye can be sterilized using? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Ethylene Oxide gas
How should the removable glass slides inside the American Optical
acuity projector be cleaned? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Wipe with
clean, soft lint-free towel or photographic lens paper
, COA Study Guide Question & Answers
2025/2026
If dust accumulates on the mirror of the slit lamp, the technician may
clean it by using what cleaning methods? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔A lint-free cloth, a lens brush, or a blast of air
Who should repair and maintain equipment such as a laser? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔A qualified service technician.
Which accessories are used to check the calibration of an
ophthalmometer/keratometer? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Three
test balls made of steel also called "Lensco Meter"
What should be used to clean the accessible lenses of a phoropter? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Photographic lens cleaner and lens tissue
What size letters (optotypes) are typically used to calibrate visual acuity
projectors? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔20/200
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Lensometer (Lensmeter)
When recording prism in a spectacle Rx, what does the abbreviation BO
stand for? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Base out
