OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL ASSISTANT EXAM
(ACTUAL) QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026 | Study Guide | A+
• A sterile surface field is created by the use of sterile drapes. The only area that is
considered sterile is the -✓✓Top surface of the drape
• Skin preparation around the operative eye is performed using alternative technique of
cleansing with -✓✓Antiseptic solution and rinsing with sterile water
• The final step in cleansing the operative eye area is to cleanse the eye -✓✓With
sterile saline or water
• Most ophthalmic Surgical cases are performed with the patient -✓✓Laying flat on their
back
• The eye drape should be -✓✓Snug, but not tight
• Plain Surgical gut or catgut is -✓✓Absorbable, eliminating the need for removal
• Nylon suture -✓✓Are not available in a wide variety of sizes
• Forceps are used to -✓✓Grasp tissues, sutures and tubing
• Scissors are used to -✓✓Cut tissues and sutures
• Hooks are used to -✓✓Identify muscles and grasp IOL loops
• Clamps are used in surgery to -✓✓Isolate sections or lesions for excision; create
hemostasis
• Calipers are used in surgery to -✓✓Measure distances
• Cannula s are used to -✓✓Deliver fluids and substances
• A speculum is used to -✓✓Separate and hold eyelids
• Titanium metal should be cleaned with -✓✓Soft brushes
, • Prior to the sterilization process, hand-held instruments such as scissors, forceps,
muscle-hooks, and needle holders must be -✓✓Meticulously rinsed and wiped of
foreign bodies with a lint free cloth and mild soap solution
• Most ophthalmic instruments have fine surface finishes and should be cleaned with -
✓✓Lint free cloths and a mild soap solution
• When a diamond blade is not cleaned properly prior to autoclaving, the debris is -
✓✓"Baked" on
• Instruments with curved or angled tips should be placed into the tray with tips -
✓✓Pointed downward
• All microsurgical instruments should be inspected under -✓✓A microscope
• Sterilization of an instrument -✓✓Is not the same as cleaning an instrument
• The front of the gown from the chest to the level of the sterile field is considered -
✓✓Sterile in the OR
• Nonsterile areas include all but the -✓✓Properly prepared and gloved hands
• While scrubbing; fingers, hands, and arms should be visualized as having -✓✓Four
sides
• When finishing scrubbing, what position should hands be held to allow water to run
from the cleanest area down the arm -✓✓Higher than the elbows
• Open gloving is performed by picking up the sterile glove, by the inside cuff with -
✓✓One hand
• One advantage of using chlorine as a disinfectant is that it -✓✓Is cost effective
• Alcohol can be used for which application? -✓✓Skin antiseptic
• Of the following bacterial gram-negative rods, which is the most destructive to the
eye? -✓✓Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Pros is is a condition in which the -✓✓Upper eyelid margin is lower than normal
• Entropion is a condition in which the -✓✓Eyelid rolls inward toward the globe
• Inflammation of the lacrimal drainage system is called -✓✓Dacryocystitis
(ACTUAL) QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026 | Study Guide | A+
• A sterile surface field is created by the use of sterile drapes. The only area that is
considered sterile is the -✓✓Top surface of the drape
• Skin preparation around the operative eye is performed using alternative technique of
cleansing with -✓✓Antiseptic solution and rinsing with sterile water
• The final step in cleansing the operative eye area is to cleanse the eye -✓✓With
sterile saline or water
• Most ophthalmic Surgical cases are performed with the patient -✓✓Laying flat on their
back
• The eye drape should be -✓✓Snug, but not tight
• Plain Surgical gut or catgut is -✓✓Absorbable, eliminating the need for removal
• Nylon suture -✓✓Are not available in a wide variety of sizes
• Forceps are used to -✓✓Grasp tissues, sutures and tubing
• Scissors are used to -✓✓Cut tissues and sutures
• Hooks are used to -✓✓Identify muscles and grasp IOL loops
• Clamps are used in surgery to -✓✓Isolate sections or lesions for excision; create
hemostasis
• Calipers are used in surgery to -✓✓Measure distances
• Cannula s are used to -✓✓Deliver fluids and substances
• A speculum is used to -✓✓Separate and hold eyelids
• Titanium metal should be cleaned with -✓✓Soft brushes
, • Prior to the sterilization process, hand-held instruments such as scissors, forceps,
muscle-hooks, and needle holders must be -✓✓Meticulously rinsed and wiped of
foreign bodies with a lint free cloth and mild soap solution
• Most ophthalmic instruments have fine surface finishes and should be cleaned with -
✓✓Lint free cloths and a mild soap solution
• When a diamond blade is not cleaned properly prior to autoclaving, the debris is -
✓✓"Baked" on
• Instruments with curved or angled tips should be placed into the tray with tips -
✓✓Pointed downward
• All microsurgical instruments should be inspected under -✓✓A microscope
• Sterilization of an instrument -✓✓Is not the same as cleaning an instrument
• The front of the gown from the chest to the level of the sterile field is considered -
✓✓Sterile in the OR
• Nonsterile areas include all but the -✓✓Properly prepared and gloved hands
• While scrubbing; fingers, hands, and arms should be visualized as having -✓✓Four
sides
• When finishing scrubbing, what position should hands be held to allow water to run
from the cleanest area down the arm -✓✓Higher than the elbows
• Open gloving is performed by picking up the sterile glove, by the inside cuff with -
✓✓One hand
• One advantage of using chlorine as a disinfectant is that it -✓✓Is cost effective
• Alcohol can be used for which application? -✓✓Skin antiseptic
• Of the following bacterial gram-negative rods, which is the most destructive to the
eye? -✓✓Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Pros is is a condition in which the -✓✓Upper eyelid margin is lower than normal
• Entropion is a condition in which the -✓✓Eyelid rolls inward toward the globe
• Inflammation of the lacrimal drainage system is called -✓✓Dacryocystitis
