Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) Chapter 16 – Practice Questions and
Answers Study Guide
In encounters with irate or hostile patients, what is the best approach an ophthalmic medical
assistant can take?
a) Recommend that they see another physician.
b) Try to convince them that they are being unreasonable.
c) Listen calmly to their complaints and apologize for any misunderstanding.
d) Ignore them until they calm down. - ANS ✔✔c) Listen calmly to their complaints and
apologize for any misunderstanding.
When the ophthalmic medical assistant schedules a lengthy appointment for a patient with
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, what is the most appropriate recommendation to make to
the patient?
a) Fast for several hours before the appointment.
b) Come in right before lunch.
c) Come in right after breakfast or lunch.
d) Eat lightly on the day of the appointment. - ANS ✔✔c) Come in right after breakfast or lunch.
When testing visual acuity in older patients, how should the ophthalmic medical assistant
proceed?
a) Concentrate on distance acuity, as near acuity is not important in this age group.
b) Require that these patients respond quickly, so that an objective measurement can be
obtained.
c) Adjust the lighting to avoid glare, which often is a problem in this age group.
Answers Study Guide
In encounters with irate or hostile patients, what is the best approach an ophthalmic medical
assistant can take?
a) Recommend that they see another physician.
b) Try to convince them that they are being unreasonable.
c) Listen calmly to their complaints and apologize for any misunderstanding.
d) Ignore them until they calm down. - ANS ✔✔c) Listen calmly to their complaints and
apologize for any misunderstanding.
When the ophthalmic medical assistant schedules a lengthy appointment for a patient with
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, what is the most appropriate recommendation to make to
the patient?
a) Fast for several hours before the appointment.
b) Come in right before lunch.
c) Come in right after breakfast or lunch.
d) Eat lightly on the day of the appointment. - ANS ✔✔c) Come in right after breakfast or lunch.
When testing visual acuity in older patients, how should the ophthalmic medical assistant
proceed?
a) Concentrate on distance acuity, as near acuity is not important in this age group.
b) Require that these patients respond quickly, so that an objective measurement can be
obtained.
c) Adjust the lighting to avoid glare, which often is a problem in this age group.
