Virginia Optician Written Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient requires a +2.50 D lens at a vertex distance of 12 mm. If the
lens is moved to 22 mm, what is the most likely effect on effective
power?
A. No change in power
B. Decrease in effective plus power
C. Increase in effective plus power
D. Conversion to minus power
Rationale: Increasing vertex distance for a plus lens increases its
effective power at the eye because the lens is farther from the
cornea.
2. Which lens material has the highest Abbe value and therefore the least
chromatic aberration?
A. Polycarbonate
B. High-index plastic
, C. Trivex
D. Glass crown
Rationale: Trivex provides a high Abbe value with good optical
clarity, reducing chromatic aberration more effectively than
polycarbonate or high-index materials.
3. What is the primary purpose of a bifocal segment?
A. Reduce glare
B. Correct astigmatism
C. Provide near vision addition
D. Improve peripheral vision
Rationale: Bifocal segments are designed to add near focusing power
for presbyopic patients.
4. A lens with power +1.00 D is decentered 5 mm nasally in each eye.
What prism is induced per eye?
A. 0.25Δ
B. 0.50Δ
C. 0.25Δ base out
D. 0.50Δ base in
Rationale: Using Prentice’s Rule (P = cF), 0.5 cm × 1.00 D = 0.50Δ, and
nasal decentration in plus lenses induces base out prism.
5. Which instrument is primarily used to measure lens power in a lab
setting?
A. Lensometer
, B. Pupilometer
C. Keratometer
D. Phoropter
Rationale: A lensometer is used to verify the prescription and power
of spectacle lenses.
6. What is the main advantage of polycarbonate lenses?
A. High Abbe value
B. Low impact resistance
C. High impact resistance
D. Heavy weight
Rationale: Polycarbonate is valued for its superior impact resistance,
making it ideal for safety eyewear.
7. A plano lens is best described as having:
A. Positive power
B. Negative power
C. Cylinder only
D. Zero refractive power
Rationale: A plano lens has no optical power and does not converge
or diverge light.
8. What is the purpose of anti-reflective coating?
A. Increase lens thickness
B. Change lens color
C. Reduce surface reflections and improve transmission
, D. Increase magnification
Rationale: Anti-reflective coatings reduce glare and improve visual
clarity by increasing light transmission.
9. Which type of astigmatism occurs when one principal meridian is
emmetropic?
A. Compound astigmatism
B. Mixed astigmatism
C. Simple astigmatism
D. Irregular astigmatism
Rationale: Simple astigmatism involves one meridian being
emmetropic while the other is refractive.
10. The normal pupillary distance (PD) for adults typically ranges
from:
A. 40–50 mm
B. 50–55 mm
C. 54–74 mm
D. 75–90 mm
Rationale: Adult PD generally falls within the 54–74 mm range
depending on facial structure.
11. Which condition is corrected with cylindrical lenses?
A. Myopia
B. Hyperopia
C. Presbyopia
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient requires a +2.50 D lens at a vertex distance of 12 mm. If the
lens is moved to 22 mm, what is the most likely effect on effective
power?
A. No change in power
B. Decrease in effective plus power
C. Increase in effective plus power
D. Conversion to minus power
Rationale: Increasing vertex distance for a plus lens increases its
effective power at the eye because the lens is farther from the
cornea.
2. Which lens material has the highest Abbe value and therefore the least
chromatic aberration?
A. Polycarbonate
B. High-index plastic
, C. Trivex
D. Glass crown
Rationale: Trivex provides a high Abbe value with good optical
clarity, reducing chromatic aberration more effectively than
polycarbonate or high-index materials.
3. What is the primary purpose of a bifocal segment?
A. Reduce glare
B. Correct astigmatism
C. Provide near vision addition
D. Improve peripheral vision
Rationale: Bifocal segments are designed to add near focusing power
for presbyopic patients.
4. A lens with power +1.00 D is decentered 5 mm nasally in each eye.
What prism is induced per eye?
A. 0.25Δ
B. 0.50Δ
C. 0.25Δ base out
D. 0.50Δ base in
Rationale: Using Prentice’s Rule (P = cF), 0.5 cm × 1.00 D = 0.50Δ, and
nasal decentration in plus lenses induces base out prism.
5. Which instrument is primarily used to measure lens power in a lab
setting?
A. Lensometer
, B. Pupilometer
C. Keratometer
D. Phoropter
Rationale: A lensometer is used to verify the prescription and power
of spectacle lenses.
6. What is the main advantage of polycarbonate lenses?
A. High Abbe value
B. Low impact resistance
C. High impact resistance
D. Heavy weight
Rationale: Polycarbonate is valued for its superior impact resistance,
making it ideal for safety eyewear.
7. A plano lens is best described as having:
A. Positive power
B. Negative power
C. Cylinder only
D. Zero refractive power
Rationale: A plano lens has no optical power and does not converge
or diverge light.
8. What is the purpose of anti-reflective coating?
A. Increase lens thickness
B. Change lens color
C. Reduce surface reflections and improve transmission
, D. Increase magnification
Rationale: Anti-reflective coatings reduce glare and improve visual
clarity by increasing light transmission.
9. Which type of astigmatism occurs when one principal meridian is
emmetropic?
A. Compound astigmatism
B. Mixed astigmatism
C. Simple astigmatism
D. Irregular astigmatism
Rationale: Simple astigmatism involves one meridian being
emmetropic while the other is refractive.
10. The normal pupillary distance (PD) for adults typically ranges
from:
A. 40–50 mm
B. 50–55 mm
C. 54–74 mm
D. 75–90 mm
Rationale: Adult PD generally falls within the 54–74 mm range
depending on facial structure.
11. Which condition is corrected with cylindrical lenses?
A. Myopia
B. Hyperopia
C. Presbyopia
