Free COA Exam Flashcards

The clear anterior surface that provides most of the eye's focusing power. It must remain transparent and smooth, so edema, scarring, or irregular shape can reduce vision even when the retina is healthy.

The fluid-filled space between the cornea and iris. It contains aqueous humor, and its depth is clinically important before dilation or angle-related glaucoma evaluation.

The iris controls pupil size to regulate light entering the eye. Pupil testing documents size, equality, direct and consensual response, and whether an afferent defect is suspected.

The crystalline lens fine-tunes focus behind the pupil. Cataract, lens displacement, or loss of accommodation can affect acuity, glare, and near vision.

The light-sensitive neural tissue lining the back of the eye. It converts light into nerve signals, so retinal disease can cause field loss, distortion, floaters, flashes, or reduced central vision.

The central retinal area used for sharp detail and reading vision. Macular disease often affects central acuity and may cause distortion even when peripheral vision remains usable.

The nerve pathway carrying visual information from retina to brain. Damage can affect acuity, color vision, pupils, and visual fields.

A visual acuity notation comparing the test distance with the distance at which a standard eye reads the same optotype. A larger denominator means poorer distance acuity.

Distance acuity is recorded separately for each eye, with the fellow eye fully occluded without pressure. Testing both eyes together can hide unilateral vision loss.

Pinhole testing reduces blur from uncorrected refractive error. Improvement suggests a refractive component; little or no improvement raises concern for ocular disease or other nonrefractive causes.

Near acuity checks reading vision at a controlled working distance with the patient's usual near correction when appropriate. Record the chart type, distance, correction, and each eye's result.

These are used when a patient cannot read the largest chart optotypes. Document the response and testing distance so later examiners can compare severity and change.

A screening method comparing the patient's peripheral vision with the examiner's. It is not as detailed as automated perimetry, but it can reveal major field defects that need follow-up.

The pressure inside the eye, usually estimated by tonometry. IOP is one glaucoma risk factor, but diagnosis depends on the full clinical picture, not a single pressure reading.

The examiner adjusts force until the inner edges of the fluorescein semicircles just meet. Too much or too little contact can distort the pressure reading.

Fluorescein helps make the tear meniscus visible under cobalt blue light, allowing the examiner to align the mires and judge the applanation endpoint.

Before touching the eye, confirm identity, explain the test, use proper anesthetic if required, avoid contaminated tips, and follow cleaning protocols between patients.

Corneal thickness, edema, scarring, irregularity, or squeezing can affect measured pressure. Unexpected readings should be interpreted with technique and ocular findings in mind.

Nearsightedness caused when light focuses in front of the retina without correction. It is corrected with minus lenses that diverge light before it enters the eye.

Farsightedness caused when light tends to focus behind the retina without accommodation or correction. It is corrected with plus lenses that converge light.

A refractive error caused by unequal curvature in different meridians, often from the cornea or lens. Cylinder power and axis describe the correction.

Age-related loss of near focusing ability from reduced accommodation. Patients often report difficulty with near tasks and may need added plus power for reading.

Sphere corrects myopia or hyperopia, cylinder corrects astigmatism, and axis identifies the meridian of cylinder placement. All three must be recorded accurately.

An objective estimate of refractive error produced by an instrument. It is a starting point for refraction, not automatically the final prescription.

The patient's main reason for the visit, documented in the patient's own words when possible. It guides the exam sequence, urgency, and focused history questions.

A structured description of the current problem, including onset, location, duration, symptoms, severity, related events, and what improves or worsens it.

Ask about prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, eye drops, supplements, allergies, and reactions. Accurate lists reduce medication errors and help identify contraindications.

Prior eye disease, surgery, trauma, contact lens use, glasses history, and current eye medications can change testing choices and clinical risk.

Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disease, thyroid disease, and neurologic disorders can affect ocular findings and should be documented when relevant.

Before instilling a drop, verify the right patient, medication, concentration, eye, timing, and documentation. Stop and clarify any mismatch before administration.

Drops used to dilate the pupil for examination or testing. Patients should be warned about temporary blur and light sensitivity, and risk factors should be reviewed before use.

Drops that numb the ocular surface for procedures such as tonometry or foreign body evaluation. They are for supervised clinical use and should not be sent home for pain control.

Used for bacterial infection risk or treatment when ordered. Teach patients to avoid touching the bottle tip to the eye, lashes, skin, or contaminated surfaces.

Pressure-lowering drops work only when used as directed. Ask about missed doses, side effects, cost barriers, and technique before assuming treatment failure.

A binocular microscope with an adjustable light beam used to examine the anterior eye and, with lenses, posterior structures. Proper positioning and chin-forehead contact improve exam quality.

An instrument used to verify spectacle lens power, including sphere, cylinder, axis, add, and prism when present. It helps compare current glasses with the patient's needs.

An instrument that measures anterior corneal curvature. It supports contact lens fitting, corneal assessment, and cataract surgery measurements.

A central vision self-monitoring tool. New wavy lines, missing areas, or distortion should be reported promptly, especially in patients at risk for macular disease.

Imaging that documents posterior segment appearance. A useful image must be correctly labeled, focused, centered on the requested area, and clear enough for comparison.

These symptoms can signal retinal tear or detachment. Treat the report as urgent and alert the ophthalmologist or follow the office emergency protocol promptly.

Immediate copious irrigation takes priority over routine intake steps. Notify the physician and continue emergency protocol while gathering exposure details when possible.

Abrupt vision loss without pain can still be an emergency, including vascular or retinal causes. Escalate promptly instead of scheduling as a routine complaint.

This combination is high risk. Possible causes include corneal ulcer, acute angle closure, uveitis, or other urgent disease, so the assistant should notify the clinician quickly.

Do not press on the eye, remove protruding material, or perform pressure testing. Protect the eye and alert the physician immediately.

Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact and after contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment. Eye clinics require strict technique because instruments often contact tears and mucous membranes.

Reusable devices that contact the ocular surface must be cleaned and disinfected according to office protocol and manufacturer guidance before use on another patient.

The bottle tip should not touch the eye, lashes, lids, fingers, or other surfaces. A contaminated tip can transfer organisms between patients or back into the medication.

Patients should wash hands before handling lenses, use approved solutions, avoid water exposure, replace cases as directed, and stop lens wear for painful redness until evaluated.

An abnormal pupil response suggesting asymmetric afferent pathway function, often screened with the swinging flashlight test. It should be documented and reported because it may indicate optic nerve or severe retinal disease.

Assessing versions and alignment helps identify restricted movement, cranial nerve palsy, or strabismus. Ask about diplopia and observe for unequal movement in each gaze direction.