Certified Ophthalmic Assistant COA
Exam Questions and Answers
Vitreous - answer-Jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye.
Eye Floaters - answer-Tiny clumps of cells or other material inside the vitreous.
These look like small specks, strings or clouds moving in your field of vision.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - answer-Leading cause of severe,
irreversible vision loss in people over 60. It occurs when the small central portion of
the retina, called the macula, deteriorates. People will lose their central vision but
can still see out of their peripheral (side) vision.
Dry AMD - answer-When parts of the macula get thinner with age and drusen grow.
You slowly lose central vision. There is no way to treat it yet. Quite common.
Wet AMD - answer-When new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These
vessels may leak blood or other fluids , causing scarring of the macula. Less
common but more serious, you lose your vision faster.
Drusen - answer-Tiny white or yellow particles that form under the retina. They
seldom cause vision loss. But many (or very large) drusen can be a sign of AMD.
Retina - answer-Layer of nerve cells lining the back wall inside the eye. This layer
senses light and sends signals to the brain so you can see.
How is AMD diagnosed? - answer-Amsler grid, dilated exam, fluorescein
angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Glaucoma - answer-Increased pressure in the eye from too much fluid which can
damage the optic nerve.
Optic Nerve - answer-A nerve located at the back of the eye that connects to the
brain. It sends light signals to your brain so you can see.
Aqueous humor - answer-Clear liquid inside the front part of our eyes between the
lens and the cornea. It nourishes the eye and keeps it inflated.
Iris - answer-Colored part of the eye. It controls the size of your pupil to let light into
your eye.
Cataract - answer-Age related, clouding of the lens in the eyes that effect vision.
Vision looks blurry, hazy or less colorful. Surgery is the only way to correct it.
Cataract Symptoms - answer-Having blurry vision, seeing double, light sensitive,
faded color vision.
, Cornea - answer-Clear, dome-shape window of the front of your eye. It focuses light
into your eye.
Corneal Abrasion - answer-Superficial scratches and erosions of the cornea.
Blepharitis - answer-inflammation of eyelid, causing redness, crusting, and swelling
along lid margins
Pinguecula - answer-A growth that looks like a yellow spot or bump on the
conjunctiva. It often appears on the side of the eye near your nose. it is a deposit of
protein, fat, or calcium. Believed to be caused by having dry eyes, wind exposure,
dust, and UV light from sun.
Pterygium - answer-A growth of fleshy tissue that may start as a pinguecula. It can
remain small or grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, it
can affect your vision. Believed to be caused by having dry eyes, wind exposure,
dust, and UV light from sun.
Conjunctiva - answer-Clear tissue covering the white part of your eye and the inside
of your eyelids.
Sclera - answer-The outer layer of the eye. This is the white part of the eye.
Macular Edema - answer-Swelling of the Macula from leaking blood vessels. Causes
vision loss.
NPDR - answer-non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The early stage of diabetic eye
disease. Many people with diabetes have it.
Diabetic Retinopathy - answer-Is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to
blood vessels in the retina.
Photophobia - answer-sensitivity to light
IOP - answer-The pressure of the fluid within the eye measured in millimeters of
mercury.
Proparacaine - answer-Is used to numb the eye before surgery, certain tests or
procedures.
Fluorescein - answer-An organic compound that is used to stain the tear film for
primarily rigid contact lens fitting and to assess the integrity of the cornea. It glows in
the presence of ultraviolet light or cobalt blue light. It stains areas of epithelial
damage a yellowish-green color.
Myopia - answer-Nearsightedness, a condition in which close objects appear clearly
and far ones do not.
Presbyopia - answer-farsightedness caused by age related loss of the eyes ability to
focus actively on nearby objects.
Exam Questions and Answers
Vitreous - answer-Jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye.
Eye Floaters - answer-Tiny clumps of cells or other material inside the vitreous.
These look like small specks, strings or clouds moving in your field of vision.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - answer-Leading cause of severe,
irreversible vision loss in people over 60. It occurs when the small central portion of
the retina, called the macula, deteriorates. People will lose their central vision but
can still see out of their peripheral (side) vision.
Dry AMD - answer-When parts of the macula get thinner with age and drusen grow.
You slowly lose central vision. There is no way to treat it yet. Quite common.
Wet AMD - answer-When new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These
vessels may leak blood or other fluids , causing scarring of the macula. Less
common but more serious, you lose your vision faster.
Drusen - answer-Tiny white or yellow particles that form under the retina. They
seldom cause vision loss. But many (or very large) drusen can be a sign of AMD.
Retina - answer-Layer of nerve cells lining the back wall inside the eye. This layer
senses light and sends signals to the brain so you can see.
How is AMD diagnosed? - answer-Amsler grid, dilated exam, fluorescein
angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Glaucoma - answer-Increased pressure in the eye from too much fluid which can
damage the optic nerve.
Optic Nerve - answer-A nerve located at the back of the eye that connects to the
brain. It sends light signals to your brain so you can see.
Aqueous humor - answer-Clear liquid inside the front part of our eyes between the
lens and the cornea. It nourishes the eye and keeps it inflated.
Iris - answer-Colored part of the eye. It controls the size of your pupil to let light into
your eye.
Cataract - answer-Age related, clouding of the lens in the eyes that effect vision.
Vision looks blurry, hazy or less colorful. Surgery is the only way to correct it.
Cataract Symptoms - answer-Having blurry vision, seeing double, light sensitive,
faded color vision.
, Cornea - answer-Clear, dome-shape window of the front of your eye. It focuses light
into your eye.
Corneal Abrasion - answer-Superficial scratches and erosions of the cornea.
Blepharitis - answer-inflammation of eyelid, causing redness, crusting, and swelling
along lid margins
Pinguecula - answer-A growth that looks like a yellow spot or bump on the
conjunctiva. It often appears on the side of the eye near your nose. it is a deposit of
protein, fat, or calcium. Believed to be caused by having dry eyes, wind exposure,
dust, and UV light from sun.
Pterygium - answer-A growth of fleshy tissue that may start as a pinguecula. It can
remain small or grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, it
can affect your vision. Believed to be caused by having dry eyes, wind exposure,
dust, and UV light from sun.
Conjunctiva - answer-Clear tissue covering the white part of your eye and the inside
of your eyelids.
Sclera - answer-The outer layer of the eye. This is the white part of the eye.
Macular Edema - answer-Swelling of the Macula from leaking blood vessels. Causes
vision loss.
NPDR - answer-non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The early stage of diabetic eye
disease. Many people with diabetes have it.
Diabetic Retinopathy - answer-Is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to
blood vessels in the retina.
Photophobia - answer-sensitivity to light
IOP - answer-The pressure of the fluid within the eye measured in millimeters of
mercury.
Proparacaine - answer-Is used to numb the eye before surgery, certain tests or
procedures.
Fluorescein - answer-An organic compound that is used to stain the tear film for
primarily rigid contact lens fitting and to assess the integrity of the cornea. It glows in
the presence of ultraviolet light or cobalt blue light. It stains areas of epithelial
damage a yellowish-green color.
Myopia - answer-Nearsightedness, a condition in which close objects appear clearly
and far ones do not.
Presbyopia - answer-farsightedness caused by age related loss of the eyes ability to
focus actively on nearby objects.
