Patient Care, Ethics & Clinical Procedures in Orthoptics Flashcards
7 cards from real CO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Care, Ethics & Clinical Procedures in Orthoptics flashcards as text
A parent refuses patching therapy for their child's amblyopia, citing school concerns. What is the orthoptist's most appropriate ethical response?
Answer: Document the refusal, educate on risks, and explore alternative treatments
Respecting autonomy means educating the family about risks while documenting the discussion and offering alternatives like atropine penalization.
During a cover-uncover test, the uncovered eye makes a refixation movement from an outward position. This indicates:
Answer: Exotropia
An outward-to-inward refixation movement on uncover indicates the eye was deviated outward (exotropia) under cover.
Which informed consent element is MOST critical before performing a Worth 4-Dot test on a pediatric patient?
Answer: Explanation of the test purpose to the child in age-appropriate language
Assent from the child with parental consent requires explaining the procedure in developmentally appropriate terms to maximize cooperation.
A patient discloses they are driving commercially but has vision below federal motor carrier standards. The orthoptist's legal obligation is to:
Answer: Inform the patient of reporting requirements and document the counseling
Orthoptists must advise patients of applicable reporting laws and document the counseling, balancing confidentiality with public safety duties.
The Hirschberg test shows the corneal light reflex displaced 2 mm nasally in the left eye. This suggests approximately:
Answer: 15 prism diopters of esotropia
Each 1 mm of corneal reflex displacement approximates 15 prism diopters, so 2 mm nasally equals roughly 30 PD esotropia — but the standard teaching is ~15 PD per mm.
When documenting an orthoptic evaluation, which entry best meets medicolegal standards?
Answer: 'CT: 20 PD ET at distance, cover test performed under standard indoor illumination, manifest deviation confirmed.'
Objective, quantified findings with the conditions of testing constitute legally defensible documentation.
A colleague asks you to co-sign an orthoptic report for an evaluation you did not perform. You should:
Answer: Refuse and explain that co-signing records you did not author is unethical and potentially fraudulent
Signing a record you did not author misrepresents the facts and violates professional ethics and potentially federal fraud statutes.