COA Study Guide Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history. - Correct answer-Chief
complaint, present illness, past ocular history, ocular medications, general medical
and surgical history, systemic medications, allergies, social history, and family
history.
Why is it important to specifically ask a patient about the medications they are
taking? - Correct answer-Because certain medications may affect the eyes.
What is the proper response to a patient's request from the ophthalmic technician
for medical advice or a diagnosis? - Correct answer-Refer the patient to the
ophthalmologist
What is the term used for the reason for the patient's visit? - Correct answer-Chief
complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - Correct answer-Smoking,
alcohol, and drug use
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,Prior use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents is part of a patient's ________. -
Correct answer-Past ocular history
Pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? - Correct
answer-Parents, grandparents, and genetic siblings
A patient describing an experience of getting hives after taking sulfa drugs is
providing information about __________. - Correct answer-An allergic reaction
What is the term for the spasmodic, rhythmic dilating, and contracting pupillary
movements during pupil function testing? - Correct answer-Hippus
What is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent pupillary defect?
- Correct answer-Swinging flashlight test
Which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - Correct answer-Sphincter
What is pupil dilation termed? - Correct answer-Mydriasis
What is the term used when there is a difference in pupil size? - Correct answer-
Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - Correct answer-The measurement of pupillary diameters.
What is the name of the reflexive reaction that occurs when a light is directed into
one pupil and the pupil of the opposite eye simultaneously reacts - Correct answer-
Consensual pupillary reaction
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Calibration of the applanation tonometer should be checked approximately every
_____ months. - Correct answer-Two (or sooner with regular use)
When cleaning the goniolens, what is uses to rinse off the methycellulose? -
Correct answer-Warm running water
When replacing a light bulb _____ can diminish its effectiveness and life. - Correct
answer-Oil from fingers
Diagnostic lenses that contact the eye can be sterilized using? - Correct answer-
Ethylene Oxide gas
How should the removable glass slides inside the American Optical acuity
projector be cleaned? - Correct answer-Wipe with clean, soft lint-free towel or
photographic lens paper
If dust accumulates on the mirror of the slit lamp, the technician may clean it by
using what cleaning methods? - Correct answer-A lint-free cloth, a lens brush, or a
blast of air
Who should repair and maintain equipment such as a laser? - Correct answer-A
qualified service technician.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Which accessories are used to check the calibration of an
ophthalmometer/keratometer? - Correct answer-Three test balls made of steel also
called "Lensco Meter"
What should be used to clean the accessible lenses of a phoropter? - Correct
answer-Photographic lens cleaner and lens tissue
What size letters (optotypes) are typically used to calibrate visual acuity
projectors? - Correct answer-20/200
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? - Correct answer-
Lensometer (Lensmeter)
When recording prism in a spectacle Rx, what does the abbreviation BO stand for?
- Correct answer-Base out
What is determined by focusing the thin lines in a manual lensometer? - Correct
answer-The sphere of the spectacle Rx is determined by the thin lines.
What is the first step in performing lensometry? - Correct answer-Focus the
eyepiece.
If you cannot center the thick and thin lines in the lensometer, the lens has
_______. - Correct answer-Ground-in prism.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
and Answers
Name the nine components of the ophthalmic history. - Correct answer-Chief
complaint, present illness, past ocular history, ocular medications, general medical
and surgical history, systemic medications, allergies, social history, and family
history.
Why is it important to specifically ask a patient about the medications they are
taking? - Correct answer-Because certain medications may affect the eyes.
What is the proper response to a patient's request from the ophthalmic technician
for medical advice or a diagnosis? - Correct answer-Refer the patient to the
ophthalmologist
What is the term used for the reason for the patient's visit? - Correct answer-Chief
complaint
What elements are important in social history taking? - Correct answer-Smoking,
alcohol, and drug use
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Prior use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents is part of a patient's ________. -
Correct answer-Past ocular history
Pertinent family history of a patient should include which relatives? - Correct
answer-Parents, grandparents, and genetic siblings
A patient describing an experience of getting hives after taking sulfa drugs is
providing information about __________. - Correct answer-An allergic reaction
What is the term for the spasmodic, rhythmic dilating, and contracting pupillary
movements during pupil function testing? - Correct answer-Hippus
What is the name of the test used for detecting a relative afferent pupillary defect?
- Correct answer-Swinging flashlight test
Which muscle of the iris constricts in bright light? - Correct answer-Sphincter
What is pupil dilation termed? - Correct answer-Mydriasis
What is the term used when there is a difference in pupil size? - Correct answer-
Anisocoria
What is pupillometry? - Correct answer-The measurement of pupillary diameters.
What is the name of the reflexive reaction that occurs when a light is directed into
one pupil and the pupil of the opposite eye simultaneously reacts - Correct answer-
Consensual pupillary reaction
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Calibration of the applanation tonometer should be checked approximately every
_____ months. - Correct answer-Two (or sooner with regular use)
When cleaning the goniolens, what is uses to rinse off the methycellulose? -
Correct answer-Warm running water
When replacing a light bulb _____ can diminish its effectiveness and life. - Correct
answer-Oil from fingers
Diagnostic lenses that contact the eye can be sterilized using? - Correct answer-
Ethylene Oxide gas
How should the removable glass slides inside the American Optical acuity
projector be cleaned? - Correct answer-Wipe with clean, soft lint-free towel or
photographic lens paper
If dust accumulates on the mirror of the slit lamp, the technician may clean it by
using what cleaning methods? - Correct answer-A lint-free cloth, a lens brush, or a
blast of air
Who should repair and maintain equipment such as a laser? - Correct answer-A
qualified service technician.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Which accessories are used to check the calibration of an
ophthalmometer/keratometer? - Correct answer-Three test balls made of steel also
called "Lensco Meter"
What should be used to clean the accessible lenses of a phoropter? - Correct
answer-Photographic lens cleaner and lens tissue
What size letters (optotypes) are typically used to calibrate visual acuity
projectors? - Correct answer-20/200
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? - Correct answer-
Lensometer (Lensmeter)
When recording prism in a spectacle Rx, what does the abbreviation BO stand for?
- Correct answer-Base out
What is determined by focusing the thin lines in a manual lensometer? - Correct
answer-The sphere of the spectacle Rx is determined by the thin lines.
What is the first step in performing lensometry? - Correct answer-Focus the
eyepiece.
If you cannot center the thick and thin lines in the lensometer, the lens has
_______. - Correct answer-Ground-in prism.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
