OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL ASSISTANT
CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE TEST
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ In what position is the patient placed during surgery?
Answer: Supine
⩥ What are 3 types of operative admissions for surgery?
Answer: Emergency, urgent, and elective
⩥ Name 3 types of ocular emergencies that may require surgical
intervention
Answer: Lacerated globes and eyelids; intraocular foreign bodies; acute
glaucoma; and, intraocular hemorrhage
⩥ What should pre-operative patients bring to their surgical
appointment?
Answer: A list of medications and allergies
⩥ When scheduling a patient for surgery, what information is needed for
scheduling purposes?
,Answer: 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?
Answer: Prior to surgery
⩥ Who should a patient speak to if they are uncomfortable under the
surgical drape?
Answer: The surgeon, anesthetist, or the nurse
⩥ What test is performed pre-operatively to determine axial length?
Answer: A-scan
⩥ If a patient is scheduled for extraocular muscle surgery, what
diagnostic tests are generally performed?
Answer: External photography and muscle balance measurements
⩥ What are vital signs?
Answer: Measurement of blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
⩥ What is the most common cause of corrosion of instruments?
,Answer: 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?
Answer: Neutral pH level (7.0-8.5)
⩥ How often should instruments be lubricated?
Answer: Every 5 procedures and after every cleaning process
⩥ The most common cause of corrosion and pitting of instruments are _
and _
Answer: Blood and saline
⩥ What kind of disposable instrument wipes are recommended for
cleaning microsurgical instruments?
Answer: Lint-free wipes
⩥ Ultrasonic cleaners remove foreign matter and all lubrication from
instruments. What step should follow the ultrasonic cleaning process?
Answer: Instruments should be bathed in instrument milk
⩥ Why are microsurgical instruments separated during ultrasonic
cleaning?
, Answer: To avoid vibrations that may cause premature precision tip
wear
⩥ Instrument "rust" may actually be a _
Answer: Stain
⩥ The first steps in a maintenance program of instruments are _ and _
Answer: Inspection and evaluation
⩥ Immediately after use, a diamond blade should be rinsed with what
type of solution?
Answer: 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
Answer: 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 _
Answer: Pitting
CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE TEST
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ In what position is the patient placed during surgery?
Answer: Supine
⩥ What are 3 types of operative admissions for surgery?
Answer: Emergency, urgent, and elective
⩥ Name 3 types of ocular emergencies that may require surgical
intervention
Answer: Lacerated globes and eyelids; intraocular foreign bodies; acute
glaucoma; and, intraocular hemorrhage
⩥ What should pre-operative patients bring to their surgical
appointment?
Answer: A list of medications and allergies
⩥ When scheduling a patient for surgery, what information is needed for
scheduling purposes?
,Answer: 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?
Answer: Prior to surgery
⩥ Who should a patient speak to if they are uncomfortable under the
surgical drape?
Answer: The surgeon, anesthetist, or the nurse
⩥ What test is performed pre-operatively to determine axial length?
Answer: A-scan
⩥ If a patient is scheduled for extraocular muscle surgery, what
diagnostic tests are generally performed?
Answer: External photography and muscle balance measurements
⩥ What are vital signs?
Answer: Measurement of blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
⩥ What is the most common cause of corrosion of instruments?
,Answer: 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?
Answer: Neutral pH level (7.0-8.5)
⩥ How often should instruments be lubricated?
Answer: Every 5 procedures and after every cleaning process
⩥ The most common cause of corrosion and pitting of instruments are _
and _
Answer: Blood and saline
⩥ What kind of disposable instrument wipes are recommended for
cleaning microsurgical instruments?
Answer: Lint-free wipes
⩥ Ultrasonic cleaners remove foreign matter and all lubrication from
instruments. What step should follow the ultrasonic cleaning process?
Answer: Instruments should be bathed in instrument milk
⩥ Why are microsurgical instruments separated during ultrasonic
cleaning?
, Answer: To avoid vibrations that may cause premature precision tip
wear
⩥ Instrument "rust" may actually be a _
Answer: Stain
⩥ The first steps in a maintenance program of instruments are _ and _
Answer: Inspection and evaluation
⩥ Immediately after use, a diamond blade should be rinsed with what
type of solution?
Answer: 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
Answer: 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 _
Answer: Pitting
