OPHTHALMIC MEDICAL ASSISTING
ACTUAL EXAM WITH COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
RATED A+
List the 3 levels of certified ophthalmic assisting in order of level
of training and experience Correct Answer 1. Certified Ophthalmic
Assistant (COA)
2. Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)
3. Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist COMT)
Ophthalmic medical assistants may be required to do all tasks
except which of the following?
a. Perform diagnostic tests
b. Assist with office surgical procedures
c. Administer certain medications to patients
d. Diagnose patients' eye conditions
e. Schedule and greet patients Correct Answer d. Diagnose
patients' eye conditions
Which of the following is a subspecialty certification offered by
JCAHPO?
a. SOC
b. OSA
c. ATPO
d. COT Correct Answer b. OSA
Ophthalmologists who confine their practice to diagnosing and
treating a defined area of the eye or disease are called
a. retinologists
b. subspecialist
c. oculist
,d. specialist Correct Answer b. subspecialist
Briefly describe how the eye converts light rays to a perceived
image, naming the principal structures involved in the process.
Correct Answer Light rays reflected from an object are focused by
the cornea and the lens to produce an upside-down image of the
object on the light-sensitive retina. The retina converts the image
to electric impulses, which are carried by the optic nerve to the
brain's visual cortex, where they produce the sensation of sight.
Name the 4 primary structures included in the adnexa. Correct
Answer 1. orbit
2. extraocular muscles
3. eyelids
4. lacrimal apparatus
Describe the structure and function of the orbit. Correct Answer
The bony cavity in the skull that houses the globe, extraocular
muscles, blood vessels, and nerves; protects the globe from
major injury by a rim of bone
Which structure besides the cornea provides the eye's focusing
power? Correct Answer lens
What is the physiologic process and purpose of accommodation?
Correct Answer The curvature of the lens can change, becoming
rounder, to focus images of objects that are closer to the eye
The lens is attached to the ciliary body by transparent fibers
called __________. Correct Answer zonules
What is the main function of the vitreous? Correct Answer to act
as a shock absorber for the eye and help maintain the spherical
shape of the globe
,The retina includes a photoreceptor layer containing 2 types of
cells: __________ and __________. Correct Answer rods &
cones
How are the functions of these 2 types of retinal photoreceptor
cells different? Correct Answer - rods are largely responsible for
vision in dim light ("night vision") and for peripheral vision
- cones provide sharp central vision and color perception
Briefly describe how the retina works to produce sight. Correct
Answer The retinal rods & cones receive light rays and, in turn,
generate electric (nerve) impulses. These impulses are
transmitted to the brain, where the visual messages they carry are
converted to the sensation of sight.
The macula contains most of the __________ cells. Correct
Answer cone
Describe the route of nerve impulses through the retrobulbar
visual pathway. Correct Answer The optic nerves from each eye
merge at the optic chiasm. Axon fibers from the nasal retina of
each eye cross to the opposite side of the chiasm, while axons
from the temporal retina of each eye continue on the same side.
The realigned axons emerge from the chiasm as the left & right
optic tracts, ending in the left & right lateral geniculate bodies.
There the axons synapse (connect) to the optic radiations, which
travel to the right & left halves of the visual cortex of the brain.
Name the 10 general types of disease/injury processes. Correct
Answer infectious, inflammatory, allergic, ischemic, metabolic,
congenital, developmental, degenerative, neoplastic, traumatic
Distinguish between a sign, symptom, and syndrome. Correct
Answer Sign - a change that can be observed by a physician
(objective)
, Symptom - a change experienced by a patient (subjective)
Syndrome - a group of signs or symptoms characteristic of a
particular condition
When the orbital volume increases, the resulting protrusion of the
eyeball is called __________ or __________. Correct Answer
proptosis or exophthalmos
What alterations in the appearance of the eye or eyelids may be
caused by orbital cellulitis? Correct Answer grossly swollen
eyelids, red eyes
Define strabismus and state 3 possible causes. Correct Answer -
misalignment of the eyes
1. greater than normal tissue bulk in orbit
2. loss of muscle elasticity from scarring
3. muscle paralysis due to nerve damage
4. congenital weakness of one or more extraocular muscles
What is an external hordeolum? Correct Answer abscess caused
by infection of a gland surrounding a lash follicle
What is a chalazion? Correct Answer nontender solid lump under
eyelid
What is blepharitis? Correct Answer red and encrusted eyelid
margins
What is an ectropion? Correct Answer outward turning of eyelid
margin
What is an internal hordeolum? Correct Answer abscess caused
by infection of Meibomian gland
ACTUAL EXAM WITH COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
RATED A+
List the 3 levels of certified ophthalmic assisting in order of level
of training and experience Correct Answer 1. Certified Ophthalmic
Assistant (COA)
2. Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)
3. Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist COMT)
Ophthalmic medical assistants may be required to do all tasks
except which of the following?
a. Perform diagnostic tests
b. Assist with office surgical procedures
c. Administer certain medications to patients
d. Diagnose patients' eye conditions
e. Schedule and greet patients Correct Answer d. Diagnose
patients' eye conditions
Which of the following is a subspecialty certification offered by
JCAHPO?
a. SOC
b. OSA
c. ATPO
d. COT Correct Answer b. OSA
Ophthalmologists who confine their practice to diagnosing and
treating a defined area of the eye or disease are called
a. retinologists
b. subspecialist
c. oculist
,d. specialist Correct Answer b. subspecialist
Briefly describe how the eye converts light rays to a perceived
image, naming the principal structures involved in the process.
Correct Answer Light rays reflected from an object are focused by
the cornea and the lens to produce an upside-down image of the
object on the light-sensitive retina. The retina converts the image
to electric impulses, which are carried by the optic nerve to the
brain's visual cortex, where they produce the sensation of sight.
Name the 4 primary structures included in the adnexa. Correct
Answer 1. orbit
2. extraocular muscles
3. eyelids
4. lacrimal apparatus
Describe the structure and function of the orbit. Correct Answer
The bony cavity in the skull that houses the globe, extraocular
muscles, blood vessels, and nerves; protects the globe from
major injury by a rim of bone
Which structure besides the cornea provides the eye's focusing
power? Correct Answer lens
What is the physiologic process and purpose of accommodation?
Correct Answer The curvature of the lens can change, becoming
rounder, to focus images of objects that are closer to the eye
The lens is attached to the ciliary body by transparent fibers
called __________. Correct Answer zonules
What is the main function of the vitreous? Correct Answer to act
as a shock absorber for the eye and help maintain the spherical
shape of the globe
,The retina includes a photoreceptor layer containing 2 types of
cells: __________ and __________. Correct Answer rods &
cones
How are the functions of these 2 types of retinal photoreceptor
cells different? Correct Answer - rods are largely responsible for
vision in dim light ("night vision") and for peripheral vision
- cones provide sharp central vision and color perception
Briefly describe how the retina works to produce sight. Correct
Answer The retinal rods & cones receive light rays and, in turn,
generate electric (nerve) impulses. These impulses are
transmitted to the brain, where the visual messages they carry are
converted to the sensation of sight.
The macula contains most of the __________ cells. Correct
Answer cone
Describe the route of nerve impulses through the retrobulbar
visual pathway. Correct Answer The optic nerves from each eye
merge at the optic chiasm. Axon fibers from the nasal retina of
each eye cross to the opposite side of the chiasm, while axons
from the temporal retina of each eye continue on the same side.
The realigned axons emerge from the chiasm as the left & right
optic tracts, ending in the left & right lateral geniculate bodies.
There the axons synapse (connect) to the optic radiations, which
travel to the right & left halves of the visual cortex of the brain.
Name the 10 general types of disease/injury processes. Correct
Answer infectious, inflammatory, allergic, ischemic, metabolic,
congenital, developmental, degenerative, neoplastic, traumatic
Distinguish between a sign, symptom, and syndrome. Correct
Answer Sign - a change that can be observed by a physician
(objective)
, Symptom - a change experienced by a patient (subjective)
Syndrome - a group of signs or symptoms characteristic of a
particular condition
When the orbital volume increases, the resulting protrusion of the
eyeball is called __________ or __________. Correct Answer
proptosis or exophthalmos
What alterations in the appearance of the eye or eyelids may be
caused by orbital cellulitis? Correct Answer grossly swollen
eyelids, red eyes
Define strabismus and state 3 possible causes. Correct Answer -
misalignment of the eyes
1. greater than normal tissue bulk in orbit
2. loss of muscle elasticity from scarring
3. muscle paralysis due to nerve damage
4. congenital weakness of one or more extraocular muscles
What is an external hordeolum? Correct Answer abscess caused
by infection of a gland surrounding a lash follicle
What is a chalazion? Correct Answer nontender solid lump under
eyelid
What is blepharitis? Correct Answer red and encrusted eyelid
margins
What is an ectropion? Correct Answer outward turning of eyelid
margin
What is an internal hordeolum? Correct Answer abscess caused
by infection of Meibomian gland
