Board Certified Ophthalmologist Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Board Certified Ophthalmologist facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which subtype of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) carries the highest risk of developing chronic anterior uveitis? → Oligoarticular JIA in ANA-positive young girls
2. Which is the correct minus-cylinder transposition of +2.00 +1.00 x 090? → +3.00 -1.00 x 180
3. Which aberration causes a point source of light to appear as a comet-shaped blur when imaged through the peripheral portion of a spherical lens? → Coma
4. What is the approximate accommodative demand for a 2.50 D myope who removes their spectacles to read at 40 cm? → 0 D
5. Using the SRK regression formula, an axial length error of 1 mm results in approximately what IOL power error? → 2.5 D
6. In a patient receiving long-term systemic corticosteroids for uveitis, which ocular complication is most characteristic of steroid use? → Posterior subcapsular cataract
7. What is the critical period for treating amblyopia to achieve the best visual outcome? → Before age 7-8 years
8. The Glaucoma Hemifield Test on Humphrey perimetry primarily evaluates: → Asymmetry between mirror-image superior and inferior sectors
9. A presbyopic hyperope slides plus-power reading glasses farther down the nose. What happens to the effective lens power? → Effective plus power increases
10. What is the hallmark finding on CT that distinguishes thyroid eye disease (Graves' orbitopathy) from orbital lymphoma? → Fusiform enlargement of extraocular muscles sparing the tendons
11. What is the Parks-Bielschowsky three-step test used to diagnose? → Cyclovertical muscle palsies
12. Which adverse effect is particularly characteristic of netarsudil? → Cornea verticillata
13. A neonate presents with bilateral upper eyelid ptosis, inability to elevate either eye, and chin-up head posture. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles
14. An uncorrected -2.00 D myope has a near point of 10 cm. What is the amplitude of accommodation? → 8.00 D
15. In retinoscopy, a with-the-rule movement is observed in the horizontal meridian. What type of lens should be added to neutralize this meridian? → Plus cylinder at 180 degrees
16. In the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, which baseline factor was a strong independent predictor of conversion to POAG? → Thinner central corneal thickness
17. A patient with a dense superior paracentral scotoma near fixation on 24-2 testing should additionally undergo which test for better characterization? → 10-2 visual field
18. In a patient with JIA-associated uveitis refractory to topical steroids and methotrexate, which biologic agent has FDA approval for this indication? → Adalimumab
19. Which condition involves inflammation of the eyelid margins? → Blepharitis
20. A prism with an apical angle of 10 degrees and refractive index of 1.5 produces what amount of deviation? → 5 prism diopters
21. Which of the following is the most characteristic initial symptom of typical retinitis pigmentosa (RP)? → Gradual difficulty with night vision (nyctalopia)
22. Which imaging modality is preferred for evaluating suspected optic nerve sheath meningioma? → MRI with fat suppression and gadolinium
23. Which of the following corneal dystrophies is NOT associated with a mutation in the Transforming Growth Factor Beta Induced (TGFB1) gene? → Macular Corneal Dystrophy
24. Which test is commonly used to evaluate tear production? → Schirmer test
25. A patient looks through a point 4 mm away from the optical center of a -5.00 D spherical lens. How much prism is induced? → 2 prism diopters
26. To get the best visual outcome, a dense unilateral congenital cataract should ideally be removed by about what age? → 6 weeks
27. A patient with intermediate uveitis shows 'snowballs' in the vitreous and 'snowbanking' over the pars plana. Which condition is most likely? → Pars planitis
28. A patient presents with recurrent hypopyon uveitis, painful oral ulcers, and genital ulcers. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Behçet disease
29. During retinoscopy at a working distance of 67 cm, a neutral reflex is observed with a +3.50 D lens in the phoropter. What is the patient's refractive error? → +2.00 D
30. A child with short stature, brachydactyly, and small spherical lenses presents with angle-closure glaucoma. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Weill-Marchesani syndrome