OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL ASSISTANT EXAM
(ACTUAL) QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026 | Practice Questions | A+
Verified
• In what position is the patient placed during surgery? -✓✓Supine
• What are 3 types of operative admissions for surgery? -✓✓Emergency, urgent, and
elective
• Name 3 types of ocular emergencies that may require surgical intervention -
✓✓Lacerated globes and eyelids; intraocular foreign bodies; acute glaucoma; and,
intraocular hemorrhage
• What should pre-operative patients bring to their surgical appointment? -✓✓A list of
medications and allergies
• When scheduling a patient for surgery, what information is needed for scheduling
purposes? -✓✓Patient name, date of birth, type of insurance, contact information,
procedure, anesthesia, operative eye, and length of time needed for the procedure
• When preparing a patient for surgery, when are vital signs taken, as well as when are
dilating drops and sedatives administered? -✓✓Prior to surgery
• Who should a patient speak to if they are uncomfortable under the surgical drape? -
✓✓The surgeon, anesthetist, or the nurse
• What test is performed pre-operatively to determine axial length? -✓✓A-scan
• If a patient is scheduled for extraocular muscle surgery, what diagnostic tests are
generally performed? -✓✓External photography and muscle balance measurements
• What are vital signs? -✓✓Measurement of blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
• What is the most common cause of corrosion of instruments? -✓✓Inadequate
cleaning and drying. Particles or materials that remain on the surface following
sterilization
• What is the recommended pH level for ophthalmic instrument cleaning solutions? -
✓✓Neutral pH level (7.0-8.5)
,• How often should instruments be lubricated? -✓✓Every 5 procedures and after every
cleaning process
• The most common cause of corrosion and pitting of instruments are _ and _ -
✓✓Blood and saline
• What kind of disposable instrument wipes are recommended for cleaning
microsurgical instruments? -✓✓Lint-free wipes
• Ultrasonic cleaners remove foreign matter and all lubrication from instruments. What
step should follow the ultrasonic cleaning process? -✓✓Instruments should be bathed
in instrument milk
• Why are microsurgical instruments separated during ultrasonic cleaning? -✓✓To
avoid vibrations that may cause premature precision tip wear
• Instrument "rust" may actually be a _ -✓✓Stain
• The first steps in a maintenance program of instruments are _ and _ -✓✓Inspection
and evaluation
• Immediately after use, a diamond blade should be rinsed with what type of solution? -
✓✓Sterile water
• A diamond blade with baked-on protein may be cleaned by inserting the retracted
diamond blade into a wet _ _ and working it through incisions in the direction it is
designed to cut -✓✓Styrofoam peanut
• Rust can be transferred to an instrument from another source. To detect if the actual
instrument itself is rusting, a pencil eraser is used to remove the rust and check for _ -
✓✓Pitting
• There are several types of absorbable sutures that are used in ocular sutures. Name
one -✓✓Plain or chronic surgical gut
Vicryl or Dexon
PDS (polydioxanone) suture
• What is the main advantage of using an absorbable suture? -✓✓The suture dissolves
• What is the disadvantage of using an absorbable suture? -✓✓Tissue reaction or
inflammation and less tensile strength in the suture as it breaks down
• What type of suture will not degrade or break apart over time? -✓✓Polypropylene
(Prolene)
, Mersilene polyester fiber suture
• What is an advantage of using a suture that will not degrade or break apart over time?
-✓✓More tensile strength/stronger suture. Less tissue inflammatory suture reactions as
compared to absorbable sutures
• What is the function of ultraviolet filter on the operating room microscope? -✓✓To
prevent prolonged and potentially damaging ultraviolet exposure to the macula
• What type of surgery requires probes and dilators to open obstructed canals? -
✓✓Lacrimal
• What instrument is used to cut tissue and sutures? -✓✓Scissors
• What instrument is used to hold suture needles? -✓✓Needle holders
• What instrument is used to hold the eyelids open? -✓✓Eyelid speculum
• What type of cautery is commonly used in ophthalmic surgery? -✓✓Bipolar
• What type of instruments are the Lancaster and Barraquer? -✓✓Eyelid speculums
• What are the 3 basic types of cautery instruments? -✓✓Single tip cautery, bipolar, and
grounded bovie
• What is the purpose of forceps? -✓✓Grasp tissue, suture, and tying
• What gas can be used for the sterilization of delicate ophthalmic instruments? -
✓✓Ethylene oxide gas
• What is the advantage of cellulose sponges versus cotton swabs? -✓✓Cellulose
sponges do not shed cotton fibers and are more absorbent
• What device is commonly used in strabismus and retinal surgery for the measurement
and marking? -✓✓Calipers
• Surgical stainless steel and/or titanium are used in the creation of what instruments? -
✓✓Ophthalmic surgical instruments
• What are microsurgical instruments? -✓✓Very delicate instruments with fine tips
• What instruments have no teeth and are used to tie sutures? -✓✓Tying forceps
(ACTUAL) QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026 | Practice Questions | A+
Verified
• In what position is the patient placed during surgery? -✓✓Supine
• What are 3 types of operative admissions for surgery? -✓✓Emergency, urgent, and
elective
• Name 3 types of ocular emergencies that may require surgical intervention -
✓✓Lacerated globes and eyelids; intraocular foreign bodies; acute glaucoma; and,
intraocular hemorrhage
• What should pre-operative patients bring to their surgical appointment? -✓✓A list of
medications and allergies
• When scheduling a patient for surgery, what information is needed for scheduling
purposes? -✓✓Patient name, date of birth, type of insurance, contact information,
procedure, anesthesia, operative eye, and length of time needed for the procedure
• When preparing a patient for surgery, when are vital signs taken, as well as when are
dilating drops and sedatives administered? -✓✓Prior to surgery
• Who should a patient speak to if they are uncomfortable under the surgical drape? -
✓✓The surgeon, anesthetist, or the nurse
• What test is performed pre-operatively to determine axial length? -✓✓A-scan
• If a patient is scheduled for extraocular muscle surgery, what diagnostic tests are
generally performed? -✓✓External photography and muscle balance measurements
• What are vital signs? -✓✓Measurement of blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
• What is the most common cause of corrosion of instruments? -✓✓Inadequate
cleaning and drying. Particles or materials that remain on the surface following
sterilization
• What is the recommended pH level for ophthalmic instrument cleaning solutions? -
✓✓Neutral pH level (7.0-8.5)
,• How often should instruments be lubricated? -✓✓Every 5 procedures and after every
cleaning process
• The most common cause of corrosion and pitting of instruments are _ and _ -
✓✓Blood and saline
• What kind of disposable instrument wipes are recommended for cleaning
microsurgical instruments? -✓✓Lint-free wipes
• Ultrasonic cleaners remove foreign matter and all lubrication from instruments. What
step should follow the ultrasonic cleaning process? -✓✓Instruments should be bathed
in instrument milk
• Why are microsurgical instruments separated during ultrasonic cleaning? -✓✓To
avoid vibrations that may cause premature precision tip wear
• Instrument "rust" may actually be a _ -✓✓Stain
• The first steps in a maintenance program of instruments are _ and _ -✓✓Inspection
and evaluation
• Immediately after use, a diamond blade should be rinsed with what type of solution? -
✓✓Sterile water
• A diamond blade with baked-on protein may be cleaned by inserting the retracted
diamond blade into a wet _ _ and working it through incisions in the direction it is
designed to cut -✓✓Styrofoam peanut
• Rust can be transferred to an instrument from another source. To detect if the actual
instrument itself is rusting, a pencil eraser is used to remove the rust and check for _ -
✓✓Pitting
• There are several types of absorbable sutures that are used in ocular sutures. Name
one -✓✓Plain or chronic surgical gut
Vicryl or Dexon
PDS (polydioxanone) suture
• What is the main advantage of using an absorbable suture? -✓✓The suture dissolves
• What is the disadvantage of using an absorbable suture? -✓✓Tissue reaction or
inflammation and less tensile strength in the suture as it breaks down
• What type of suture will not degrade or break apart over time? -✓✓Polypropylene
(Prolene)
, Mersilene polyester fiber suture
• What is an advantage of using a suture that will not degrade or break apart over time?
-✓✓More tensile strength/stronger suture. Less tissue inflammatory suture reactions as
compared to absorbable sutures
• What is the function of ultraviolet filter on the operating room microscope? -✓✓To
prevent prolonged and potentially damaging ultraviolet exposure to the macula
• What type of surgery requires probes and dilators to open obstructed canals? -
✓✓Lacrimal
• What instrument is used to cut tissue and sutures? -✓✓Scissors
• What instrument is used to hold suture needles? -✓✓Needle holders
• What instrument is used to hold the eyelids open? -✓✓Eyelid speculum
• What type of cautery is commonly used in ophthalmic surgery? -✓✓Bipolar
• What type of instruments are the Lancaster and Barraquer? -✓✓Eyelid speculums
• What are the 3 basic types of cautery instruments? -✓✓Single tip cautery, bipolar, and
grounded bovie
• What is the purpose of forceps? -✓✓Grasp tissue, suture, and tying
• What gas can be used for the sterilization of delicate ophthalmic instruments? -
✓✓Ethylene oxide gas
• What is the advantage of cellulose sponges versus cotton swabs? -✓✓Cellulose
sponges do not shed cotton fibers and are more absorbent
• What device is commonly used in strabismus and retinal surgery for the measurement
and marking? -✓✓Calipers
• Surgical stainless steel and/or titanium are used in the creation of what instruments? -
✓✓Ophthalmic surgical instruments
• What are microsurgical instruments? -✓✓Very delicate instruments with fine tips
• What instruments have no teeth and are used to tie sutures? -✓✓Tying forceps
