Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) Practice Test – Comprehensive Exam Questions and
Answers Study Guide
A complete history should include: - correct answer ✔✔Patient's age, Patient's chief complaint,
Past and present medical and ocular history
True/False: Noting the dosage on systemic medications is very important. - correct answer
✔✔True
Obtaining a chief complaint is accomplished by asking: - correct answer ✔✔What is going on
with your eyes
When documenting past ocular history you should note: - correct answer ✔✔Trauma,
Refractive error, Surgeries
If a patient tells you that their brother and grandmother both have cataracts you should: -
correct answer ✔✔Document this under family history
Patients who have _______ may already be on medication that might lower their eye pressure. -
correct answer ✔✔High blood pressure
Patients who are allergic to _______ may not take Diamox. - correct answer ✔✔Sulfa
If a patient tells you that they are not allergic to anything you would use or prescribe you
should: - correct answer ✔✔Politely ask the patient to tell you what they are allergic to anyway,
just in case.
Patients with _______ may have a visual field defect. - correct answer ✔✔Stroke
,A patient who has a history of _______ should not be prescribed beta blockers. - correct answer
✔✔Asthma
If a patient tells you that their excessive tearing happens more often in cold air, this would be
considered to be: - correct answer ✔✔Mitigating factor affecting symptoms
A patient tells you that they've had blurry vision for a while, you should: - correct answer
✔✔Ask the patient if it has been going on for weeks, months, years
What would be considered a sign (versus a symptom): - correct answer ✔✔Red eye
It is important to note _______ to help you determine what bifocal add a patient needs. -
correct answer ✔✔Age, Current glasses prescription, Near vision or complaints about near
vision
True/False: If a patient is allergic to anesthetic then you will not be able to evaluate their
corneal surface, as the only way to put fluorescein in their eye is in the form of a drop which
includes an anesthetic. - correct answer ✔✔False
Patients with COPD should not take: - correct answer ✔✔Beta blockers
What contains anesthetics: - correct answer ✔✔Fluress, Alcaine
When documenting patient's medications, you should include: - correct answer ✔✔Systemic
medications, Ocular medications, Over the counter
A drawback of using an ointment in the eye is: - correct answer ✔✔Medication will cause blurry
vision after instillation
, The ophthalmologist prescribes drop XYZ for a patient to use 3 times a day in his right eye, how
would this be documented: - correct answer ✔✔1 gtt XYZ TID OD
QHS means: - correct answer ✔✔At bedtime
What describes a solution: - correct answer ✔✔Particles are completely dissolved in a liquid
medium-evenly dispersed
The abbreviation Sig on a prescription means: - correct answer ✔✔Use medication following
these instructions
What would be administered orally: - correct answer ✔✔Diamox sequels
What must be shaken prior to use to ensure proper use of the medication: - correct answer
✔✔Suspension
What is an anti-inflammatory: - correct answer ✔✔Prednisone
True/False: Because Strabismus does not necessarily run in families, a history of this in an uncle
of a patient is not important to document. - correct answer ✔✔False
Ointment may be abbreviated how: - correct answer ✔✔Ung
Distance visual acuity is measured by: - correct answer ✔✔Snellen letter chart, Tumbling E
chart, Pictures chart
The 20/400 E does: - correct answer ✔✔Subtends an angle of 5 minutes
Answers Study Guide
A complete history should include: - correct answer ✔✔Patient's age, Patient's chief complaint,
Past and present medical and ocular history
True/False: Noting the dosage on systemic medications is very important. - correct answer
✔✔True
Obtaining a chief complaint is accomplished by asking: - correct answer ✔✔What is going on
with your eyes
When documenting past ocular history you should note: - correct answer ✔✔Trauma,
Refractive error, Surgeries
If a patient tells you that their brother and grandmother both have cataracts you should: -
correct answer ✔✔Document this under family history
Patients who have _______ may already be on medication that might lower their eye pressure. -
correct answer ✔✔High blood pressure
Patients who are allergic to _______ may not take Diamox. - correct answer ✔✔Sulfa
If a patient tells you that they are not allergic to anything you would use or prescribe you
should: - correct answer ✔✔Politely ask the patient to tell you what they are allergic to anyway,
just in case.
Patients with _______ may have a visual field defect. - correct answer ✔✔Stroke
,A patient who has a history of _______ should not be prescribed beta blockers. - correct answer
✔✔Asthma
If a patient tells you that their excessive tearing happens more often in cold air, this would be
considered to be: - correct answer ✔✔Mitigating factor affecting symptoms
A patient tells you that they've had blurry vision for a while, you should: - correct answer
✔✔Ask the patient if it has been going on for weeks, months, years
What would be considered a sign (versus a symptom): - correct answer ✔✔Red eye
It is important to note _______ to help you determine what bifocal add a patient needs. -
correct answer ✔✔Age, Current glasses prescription, Near vision or complaints about near
vision
True/False: If a patient is allergic to anesthetic then you will not be able to evaluate their
corneal surface, as the only way to put fluorescein in their eye is in the form of a drop which
includes an anesthetic. - correct answer ✔✔False
Patients with COPD should not take: - correct answer ✔✔Beta blockers
What contains anesthetics: - correct answer ✔✔Fluress, Alcaine
When documenting patient's medications, you should include: - correct answer ✔✔Systemic
medications, Ocular medications, Over the counter
A drawback of using an ointment in the eye is: - correct answer ✔✔Medication will cause blurry
vision after instillation
, The ophthalmologist prescribes drop XYZ for a patient to use 3 times a day in his right eye, how
would this be documented: - correct answer ✔✔1 gtt XYZ TID OD
QHS means: - correct answer ✔✔At bedtime
What describes a solution: - correct answer ✔✔Particles are completely dissolved in a liquid
medium-evenly dispersed
The abbreviation Sig on a prescription means: - correct answer ✔✔Use medication following
these instructions
What would be administered orally: - correct answer ✔✔Diamox sequels
What must be shaken prior to use to ensure proper use of the medication: - correct answer
✔✔Suspension
What is an anti-inflammatory: - correct answer ✔✔Prednisone
True/False: Because Strabismus does not necessarily run in families, a history of this in an uncle
of a patient is not important to document. - correct answer ✔✔False
Ointment may be abbreviated how: - correct answer ✔✔Ung
Distance visual acuity is measured by: - correct answer ✔✔Snellen letter chart, Tumbling E
chart, Pictures chart
The 20/400 E does: - correct answer ✔✔Subtends an angle of 5 minutes
