OPHTHALMOLOGY COA EXAM TERMS QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027
abduction - Answers the movement of the eye outward toward the temple.
aberrometry - Answers The measurement of optical aberrations of the visual system using a
device called a wavefront ananlyzer or an aberrometer
abrasion - Answers a scratch
abscess - Answers a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue.
absolute scotoma - Answers a severe visual field defect in which the largest and brightest
stimulus cannot be seen; blindness at that specific location
accommodation - Answers The change in the curvature of the crystalline lens that helps to
focus images of objects close to the eye
acidic burns - Answers a chemical injury to tissue, caused by an agent of low pH
acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome AIDS - Answers An infection with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes a compromised immune system
acute - Answers Refers to a condition that flares up suddenly and persists for only a short time.
add - Answers The portion of the multifocal lens (usually the lower part) that provides correction
for near vision. also called segment or near add
adduction - Answers The movement of the eye inward toward the nose
adenovirus - Answers A family of viruses involved primarily in respiratory infections; can cause
hightly contagious forms of conjunctivitis
adnexa - Answers The tissues and structures surrounding the eye; includes the orbit, extraocular
muscles, eyelids, and lacrimal apparatus
afferent pupillary defect APD - Answers A pupil with normal iris function that fails to constrict
normally with direct light stimulation, but reacts strongly consensually, or when the fellow eye is
stimulated. Usually secondary to optic nerve disease.
"against motion" - Answers The retinoscopic reflex movement that is in the opposite direction
from the movement of the streak of light from the retinoscope; typical of the myopic eye
age-related macular degeneration ARMD - Answers A disease in which sensory cells of the
macula degenerate, resulting in a loss of central vision; usually affects older people
alkali burn - Answers A chemical injury to tissue, cased by an agent of high pH
,allergic reaction - Answers A condition in which the body produces antibodies to foreign
materials such as food, plant pollens, or medications
alternate cover test - Answers A test performed by placing an occluder over one eye and then
moving it slowly over to the other eye to detect a tendency for the eyes to deviate while under
the occluder (such an ocular misalignment is know as a phoria) Also called cross-cover test
altitudinal scotoma - Answers The joining and enlargement of a nasal step visual field defect
and an arcuate scotoma to cause loss of the entire upper or lower visual field
amblyopia - Answers Decreased vision present without apparent abnormalities in the ocular
anatomy and uncorrectable by spectacles or contact lenses; results from visual deprivation in
early childhood
ametropia - Answers The refractive state of an eye that is unable to focus correctly due to a
refractive error
A-mode ultrasonography or A-Scan ultrasonography - Answers A diagnostic procedure in which
sound waves traveling in a staight line are used to reveal the position of, and distances between,
structures with the eye and orbit. This techhnology helps to determine the power selection of an
intraocular lens
Amsler grid test - Answers A test for determining the presence and location of defects in the
cenetral portion of the visual field.
anatomy - Answers The structure of an organism
anesthetic - Answers A drug that causes a temporary deadening of a nerve, resulting in loss of
feeling in the surrounding tissue
angiogenesis - Answers The formation of new blood vessels
Angiography - Answers A method of examining and recording size, structure, and location of
blood vessels in organ systems, using fluorescent dyes.
anisocoria - Answers a condition in which the pupils are of unequal size
anterior - Answers The front part of a structure
anterior chamber angle - Answers The junction of the cornea and the iris, from which aqueous
humor leaves the eye. Also called filtration angle.
anterior chamber - Answers The small compartment between the cornea and the iris that is
filled with a clear, transparent fluid called aqueous humor
anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) - Answers Insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve
head resulting in a lack of oxygen and subsequent infarction of (loss of) the nerve fibers and
,loss of vision
anterior segment - Answers The front of the eye; includes the structures between the front
surface of the cornea and the vitreous
anti-angiogenesis - Answers A process or agent that prevents new blood vessel growth
antibiotic - Answers a drug that combats a bacterial infection
antibody - Answers A chemical substance that the body manufactures to neutralize an infecting
micoorganism, toxin, or foreign agent.
antifungal - Answers A drug that combats a fungal infection
antimetabolite - Answers A substance that interferes with a metabolite necessary for normal
metabolic functions; often used to disrupt proliferation of cancersous or other abnormal cells,
antimetabolites may also be used to prevent normal re-growth in circumstances where it is not
desirable
antireflective AR - Answers A treatment that reduces or eleminates reflections from the surface
of a lens
antivascular endothelium growth factor (anti-VEGF) - Answers A therapeutic drug used in
intravitreal injections that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It acts by
deminishing the stimulus for abnormal new vessel growth (angiogenesis), a known cause of
wet age-related macular degeneration
antiviral - Answers A drug that combats a viral infection
apex - Answers The top, as of a prism
aphakia - Answers The absence of the crystalline lens, usually abecause of cataract extraction
aphakic correction - Answers The use of a contact lens, eyeglasses, or an intraocular lens to
improve visual acuity in aphakic patients.
applanation - Answers A form of tonometry in which the force required to flatten a small area of
the central
aqueous humor - Answers The clear, transparent fluid that fills the anterior chamber
arc perimeter - Answers An instrument used to test peripheral vision using bands of half circles
placed at various meridians
arcuate scotoma or Bjerrum scotoma - Answers An arc-shaped area of reduced sensitivity, or
blindness, in the visual field. Also known as Bjerrum scotoma or comet sotoma
arcus or arcus senilis - Answers A common degenerative change in which the outer edge of the
, cornea gradually becomes opaque, generally in both eyes; usually affects people over the age of
50.
aseptic technique - Answers A range of procedures used in medical environments to prevent the
spread of infectious microbes
astigmatic keratotomy (AK) - Answers A surgical technique to correct astigmatism that
employs transverse or arcuate incisions perpendicular to the steepest meridian of the cornea
astigmatism - Answers The refractive error of an eye whose corneal surface curvature is greater
in one meridian than the other; both distant and near objects appear blurred and distorted
asymtomatic - Answers without symptoms of disease
atrophic - Answers loss of tissue or cellular density
autoclave - Answers a metal chamber equipped to use steam or gas under high pressure and
temperature to destroy microorganisms.
autoimmune diseases - Answers Diseases in which normal immune function is altered, causing
the body to produce antibodies against its own cells; examples include Sjogren sydrome,
systemic lupus erythematosus, and ulcerative colitis
Autoplot - Answers Brand name for a refined version of the tangent screen (older kinetic
perimetric device) for measuring the central 30 degrees of vision
axial length of the globe - Answers The lenght of the eyeball from front (cornea) to back (retina),
measured through the optical center
axial ray or axial - Answers A light ray that strikes the center of a lens
axis - Answers The meridian perpendicular to the meridian with curvature in a cylindrical lens.
90 axis to 180 meridian with curvature.
axon - Answers The long fiber-like portion of a ganglion cell that courses over the surface of the
retina and converges at the optic disc
bacteria - Answers single-celled microorganisms, widely dispersed in nature; some bacteria are
capable of causing disease in humans.
balancing or binocular balancing - Answers A procedure performed on both eyes at once to
ensure that the optical correction determined by refractometry for distance vision does not
include an uneven overcorrection or undercorrection. Also called binocular balancing.
basal cell carcinoma - Answers The most common malignant lid tumor; has a characteristic
appearance of a pit surrounded by raised "pearly" edges.
UPDATE 2026/2027
abduction - Answers the movement of the eye outward toward the temple.
aberrometry - Answers The measurement of optical aberrations of the visual system using a
device called a wavefront ananlyzer or an aberrometer
abrasion - Answers a scratch
abscess - Answers a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue.
absolute scotoma - Answers a severe visual field defect in which the largest and brightest
stimulus cannot be seen; blindness at that specific location
accommodation - Answers The change in the curvature of the crystalline lens that helps to
focus images of objects close to the eye
acidic burns - Answers a chemical injury to tissue, caused by an agent of low pH
acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome AIDS - Answers An infection with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes a compromised immune system
acute - Answers Refers to a condition that flares up suddenly and persists for only a short time.
add - Answers The portion of the multifocal lens (usually the lower part) that provides correction
for near vision. also called segment or near add
adduction - Answers The movement of the eye inward toward the nose
adenovirus - Answers A family of viruses involved primarily in respiratory infections; can cause
hightly contagious forms of conjunctivitis
adnexa - Answers The tissues and structures surrounding the eye; includes the orbit, extraocular
muscles, eyelids, and lacrimal apparatus
afferent pupillary defect APD - Answers A pupil with normal iris function that fails to constrict
normally with direct light stimulation, but reacts strongly consensually, or when the fellow eye is
stimulated. Usually secondary to optic nerve disease.
"against motion" - Answers The retinoscopic reflex movement that is in the opposite direction
from the movement of the streak of light from the retinoscope; typical of the myopic eye
age-related macular degeneration ARMD - Answers A disease in which sensory cells of the
macula degenerate, resulting in a loss of central vision; usually affects older people
alkali burn - Answers A chemical injury to tissue, cased by an agent of high pH
,allergic reaction - Answers A condition in which the body produces antibodies to foreign
materials such as food, plant pollens, or medications
alternate cover test - Answers A test performed by placing an occluder over one eye and then
moving it slowly over to the other eye to detect a tendency for the eyes to deviate while under
the occluder (such an ocular misalignment is know as a phoria) Also called cross-cover test
altitudinal scotoma - Answers The joining and enlargement of a nasal step visual field defect
and an arcuate scotoma to cause loss of the entire upper or lower visual field
amblyopia - Answers Decreased vision present without apparent abnormalities in the ocular
anatomy and uncorrectable by spectacles or contact lenses; results from visual deprivation in
early childhood
ametropia - Answers The refractive state of an eye that is unable to focus correctly due to a
refractive error
A-mode ultrasonography or A-Scan ultrasonography - Answers A diagnostic procedure in which
sound waves traveling in a staight line are used to reveal the position of, and distances between,
structures with the eye and orbit. This techhnology helps to determine the power selection of an
intraocular lens
Amsler grid test - Answers A test for determining the presence and location of defects in the
cenetral portion of the visual field.
anatomy - Answers The structure of an organism
anesthetic - Answers A drug that causes a temporary deadening of a nerve, resulting in loss of
feeling in the surrounding tissue
angiogenesis - Answers The formation of new blood vessels
Angiography - Answers A method of examining and recording size, structure, and location of
blood vessels in organ systems, using fluorescent dyes.
anisocoria - Answers a condition in which the pupils are of unequal size
anterior - Answers The front part of a structure
anterior chamber angle - Answers The junction of the cornea and the iris, from which aqueous
humor leaves the eye. Also called filtration angle.
anterior chamber - Answers The small compartment between the cornea and the iris that is
filled with a clear, transparent fluid called aqueous humor
anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) - Answers Insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve
head resulting in a lack of oxygen and subsequent infarction of (loss of) the nerve fibers and
,loss of vision
anterior segment - Answers The front of the eye; includes the structures between the front
surface of the cornea and the vitreous
anti-angiogenesis - Answers A process or agent that prevents new blood vessel growth
antibiotic - Answers a drug that combats a bacterial infection
antibody - Answers A chemical substance that the body manufactures to neutralize an infecting
micoorganism, toxin, or foreign agent.
antifungal - Answers A drug that combats a fungal infection
antimetabolite - Answers A substance that interferes with a metabolite necessary for normal
metabolic functions; often used to disrupt proliferation of cancersous or other abnormal cells,
antimetabolites may also be used to prevent normal re-growth in circumstances where it is not
desirable
antireflective AR - Answers A treatment that reduces or eleminates reflections from the surface
of a lens
antivascular endothelium growth factor (anti-VEGF) - Answers A therapeutic drug used in
intravitreal injections that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It acts by
deminishing the stimulus for abnormal new vessel growth (angiogenesis), a known cause of
wet age-related macular degeneration
antiviral - Answers A drug that combats a viral infection
apex - Answers The top, as of a prism
aphakia - Answers The absence of the crystalline lens, usually abecause of cataract extraction
aphakic correction - Answers The use of a contact lens, eyeglasses, or an intraocular lens to
improve visual acuity in aphakic patients.
applanation - Answers A form of tonometry in which the force required to flatten a small area of
the central
aqueous humor - Answers The clear, transparent fluid that fills the anterior chamber
arc perimeter - Answers An instrument used to test peripheral vision using bands of half circles
placed at various meridians
arcuate scotoma or Bjerrum scotoma - Answers An arc-shaped area of reduced sensitivity, or
blindness, in the visual field. Also known as Bjerrum scotoma or comet sotoma
arcus or arcus senilis - Answers A common degenerative change in which the outer edge of the
, cornea gradually becomes opaque, generally in both eyes; usually affects people over the age of
50.
aseptic technique - Answers A range of procedures used in medical environments to prevent the
spread of infectious microbes
astigmatic keratotomy (AK) - Answers A surgical technique to correct astigmatism that
employs transverse or arcuate incisions perpendicular to the steepest meridian of the cornea
astigmatism - Answers The refractive error of an eye whose corneal surface curvature is greater
in one meridian than the other; both distant and near objects appear blurred and distorted
asymtomatic - Answers without symptoms of disease
atrophic - Answers loss of tissue or cellular density
autoclave - Answers a metal chamber equipped to use steam or gas under high pressure and
temperature to destroy microorganisms.
autoimmune diseases - Answers Diseases in which normal immune function is altered, causing
the body to produce antibodies against its own cells; examples include Sjogren sydrome,
systemic lupus erythematosus, and ulcerative colitis
Autoplot - Answers Brand name for a refined version of the tangent screen (older kinetic
perimetric device) for measuring the central 30 degrees of vision
axial length of the globe - Answers The lenght of the eyeball from front (cornea) to back (retina),
measured through the optical center
axial ray or axial - Answers A light ray that strikes the center of a lens
axis - Answers The meridian perpendicular to the meridian with curvature in a cylindrical lens.
90 axis to 180 meridian with curvature.
axon - Answers The long fiber-like portion of a ganglion cell that courses over the surface of the
retina and converges at the optic disc
bacteria - Answers single-celled microorganisms, widely dispersed in nature; some bacteria are
capable of causing disease in humans.
balancing or binocular balancing - Answers A procedure performed on both eyes at once to
ensure that the optical correction determined by refractometry for distance vision does not
include an uneven overcorrection or undercorrection. Also called binocular balancing.
basal cell carcinoma - Answers The most common malignant lid tumor; has a characteristic
appearance of a pit surrounded by raised "pearly" edges.
