Patient Care Flashcards

Which documentation entry best reflects proper SOAP note format for a chief complaint of red eye?

Answer: S: Patient states right eye has been red and itchy for 2 days

The Subjective section of a SOAP note should record the patient's own words describing their symptoms and timeline.

When measuring near visual acuity, the standard testing distance is:

Answer: 14 inches (35 cm)

Near visual acuity is standardly measured at 14 inches (approximately 35 cm), simulating typical reading distance.

A patient with diabetes mellitus is scheduled for a dilated fundus exam. Which observation during preliminary testing would be most significant to report?

Answer: Fluctuating visual acuity between visits

Fluctuating visual acuity in diabetic patients may indicate unstable blood glucose levels affecting the lens, which is clinically significant.

Which technique is correct when performing confrontation visual field testing?

Answer: Cover one eye and compare patient's peripheral vision to the examiner's

Confrontation visual field testing compares the patient's peripheral vision to the examiner's as a gross screening tool, one eye at a time.

A patient is allergic to topical anesthetic. Which procedure must be postponed or modified?

Answer: Goldmann applanation tonometry

Goldmann applanation tonometry requires a topical anesthetic for patient comfort and accurate measurement, so it cannot proceed without one.

When assisting a patient who uses a walker into the examination chair, the paraoptometric should:

Answer: Ensure the patient is safely seated before stepping away

Patient safety requires confirming that a mobility-impaired patient is fully and safely seated before the assistant moves to another task.

Which lensometer reading indicates a pure cylindrical correction with no spherical component?

Answer: Plano -1.50 x 090

Plano -1.50 x 090 means zero sphere power combined with -1.50 diopters of cylinder, making it a pure cylindrical correction.