Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) Exam Questions – Comprehensive Practice Questions
and Answers Study Guide
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history - ANS ✔✔CC, Present illness, Past ocular
history, Ocular medications, General medical and surgical history, current medications, allergies,
social and family history
why is it important to specifically ask a patient about what medications they are taking? - ANS
✔✔because certain medications may affect the eyes
what is the proper response to a patients request of medical advice or a diagnosis from a
technician? - ANS ✔✔refer them to the doctor for any questions requiring diagnosis or medical
advice
what is the term used for the reason of the patients visit? - ANS ✔✔Chief complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - ANS ✔✔Smoking, alcohol, and drug use
prior use of a topical ocular medication is part of a patients... - ANS ✔✔past ocular history
pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? - ANS ✔✔parents,
grandparents, and genetic siblings
a patient describes an experience about getting hives after taking sulfa drugs, they are providing
information about? - ANS ✔✔A medication allergy/ allergic reaction
what term is used when there is a difference in pupil size? - ANS ✔✔Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - ANS ✔✔the measurement of pupillary diameters
,what is the name of the reflexive reaction when light is directed on one pupil and the other
pupil simultaneously reacts? - ANS ✔✔consensual pupillary reaction
what is the term for spasmodic, rhythmic dilating and contracting of pupils? - ANS ✔✔Hippus
what is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent pupillary defect? - ANS
✔✔swinging flashlight test
which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - ANS ✔✔the sphincter
what is pupil dilation called? - ANS ✔✔mydriasis
how is anterior chamber depth estimated using a slit lamp? - ANS ✔✔the beam of light is
placed at the limbus at 60degrees, and the distance between the post. limit and the anter. limit
or the irish beam is compared with the thickness of the optical section of cornea.
which two structures touch if the anterior chamber is flat? - ANS ✔✔the iris and cornea
ophthalms. often estimate the anterior chamber depth by measuring the angle between the... -
ANS ✔✔Anterior surface of the iris and the posterior surface of the cornea.
Which color vision rest consists of psuedo isochromatic plates that determine red-green color
anomalies? - ANS ✔✔ishihara plates
which color defects may be distinguished by the ishihara test? - ANS ✔✔red-green
how long are schirmer strips left in place for tear testing? - ANS ✔✔5 mintues
, A-scan biometry measure the distance between? - ANS ✔✔internal ocular surfaces
the main use of A-scan biometry is to measure the... - ANS ✔✔Axial length of the eye
rose bengal - ANS ✔✔is a red dye used for evaluating the corneal epithelium
farnsworth munsell 100 hue test - ANS ✔✔uses rainbow colored cups that must be arranged by
hue
hardy rand ritter test - ANS ✔✔consists of a series of plates with grey background and colored
circles crosses and triangles
schirmers test - ANS ✔✔uses strips of filter paper inserted into the lower fornix to measure tear
production.
what is the name of the instrument used to measure extension of the anterior surface of the
cornea beyond the orbital rim? - ANS ✔✔exophthalmometer
name at least one example of a glare testing device - ANS ✔✔TVA, BAT, eye con
when performing an A-Scan , 1mm of error in axial length can result in how many diopters of an
IOL error? - ANS ✔✔three
the amount of time it takes for dry spots to form on the cornea? - ANS ✔✔BUT (break up time)
How often should an applanation tonometer be re-calibrated? - ANS ✔✔every 2 months
and Answers Study Guide
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history - ANS ✔✔CC, Present illness, Past ocular
history, Ocular medications, General medical and surgical history, current medications, allergies,
social and family history
why is it important to specifically ask a patient about what medications they are taking? - ANS
✔✔because certain medications may affect the eyes
what is the proper response to a patients request of medical advice or a diagnosis from a
technician? - ANS ✔✔refer them to the doctor for any questions requiring diagnosis or medical
advice
what is the term used for the reason of the patients visit? - ANS ✔✔Chief complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - ANS ✔✔Smoking, alcohol, and drug use
prior use of a topical ocular medication is part of a patients... - ANS ✔✔past ocular history
pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? - ANS ✔✔parents,
grandparents, and genetic siblings
a patient describes an experience about getting hives after taking sulfa drugs, they are providing
information about? - ANS ✔✔A medication allergy/ allergic reaction
what term is used when there is a difference in pupil size? - ANS ✔✔Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - ANS ✔✔the measurement of pupillary diameters
,what is the name of the reflexive reaction when light is directed on one pupil and the other
pupil simultaneously reacts? - ANS ✔✔consensual pupillary reaction
what is the term for spasmodic, rhythmic dilating and contracting of pupils? - ANS ✔✔Hippus
what is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent pupillary defect? - ANS
✔✔swinging flashlight test
which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - ANS ✔✔the sphincter
what is pupil dilation called? - ANS ✔✔mydriasis
how is anterior chamber depth estimated using a slit lamp? - ANS ✔✔the beam of light is
placed at the limbus at 60degrees, and the distance between the post. limit and the anter. limit
or the irish beam is compared with the thickness of the optical section of cornea.
which two structures touch if the anterior chamber is flat? - ANS ✔✔the iris and cornea
ophthalms. often estimate the anterior chamber depth by measuring the angle between the... -
ANS ✔✔Anterior surface of the iris and the posterior surface of the cornea.
Which color vision rest consists of psuedo isochromatic plates that determine red-green color
anomalies? - ANS ✔✔ishihara plates
which color defects may be distinguished by the ishihara test? - ANS ✔✔red-green
how long are schirmer strips left in place for tear testing? - ANS ✔✔5 mintues
, A-scan biometry measure the distance between? - ANS ✔✔internal ocular surfaces
the main use of A-scan biometry is to measure the... - ANS ✔✔Axial length of the eye
rose bengal - ANS ✔✔is a red dye used for evaluating the corneal epithelium
farnsworth munsell 100 hue test - ANS ✔✔uses rainbow colored cups that must be arranged by
hue
hardy rand ritter test - ANS ✔✔consists of a series of plates with grey background and colored
circles crosses and triangles
schirmers test - ANS ✔✔uses strips of filter paper inserted into the lower fornix to measure tear
production.
what is the name of the instrument used to measure extension of the anterior surface of the
cornea beyond the orbital rim? - ANS ✔✔exophthalmometer
name at least one example of a glare testing device - ANS ✔✔TVA, BAT, eye con
when performing an A-Scan , 1mm of error in axial length can result in how many diopters of an
IOL error? - ANS ✔✔three
the amount of time it takes for dry spots to form on the cornea? - ANS ✔✔BUT (break up time)
How often should an applanation tonometer be re-calibrated? - ANS ✔✔every 2 months
