Skills Guide.
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Anterior & posterior segment protocols with timers, flashcards, and progress tracking.
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Practise each station at a virtual slit lamp or BIO, scored item by item against these checklists.
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Free preview: the full Skill 1: Biomicroscopy protocol is open below — steps, timers, and flashcards included. The Part III Sprint unlocks all 5 skills.
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Skill 1: Biomicroscopy
0 / 25 steps completed
State you would properly disinfect ocular instruments prior to use (station general item)
"I would properly disinfect the gonioscopy lens and tonometer probe prior to use."
Technique: Assume the lens and probe are already clean — you still have to say it. Easy point, easy to forget.
Explain the purpose of the procedure to the patient
"I am going to use this device to evaluate the health of the front part of your eyes. Which eye would you like me to perform this on?"
Properly examine the entire upper and lower lids and lashes
Technique: Diffuse beam, medium illumination, low mag 10x
Accurately describe the upper and lower lids and lashes
"I am examining the superior and inferior lids and lashes. The lids and lashes appear clear/dermatochalasis/debris/flakes/trichiasis/laxity/etc."
Properly examine the entire upper and lower lid margins and lower puncta
Technique: Medium illumination, parallelepiped
Accurately describe the upper and lower lid margins and lower puncta
"The lid margins are clear/telangiectasia/capped glands and the lower puncta is open/stenosed."
Properly examine the entire inferior palpebral conjunctiva (lower lid eversion)
"Please look up. I am everting the lower lid."
Accurately describe the inferior palpebral conjunctiva
"The inferior palpebral conjunctiva is pink and healthy/follicles/papillae/concretions/conjunctivochalasis."
Properly examine the entire superior palpebral conjunctiva (upper lid eversion)
"Please look down. I am everting the upper lid."
Technique: A cotton-tipped applicator may be used to assist upper lid eversion.
Accurately describe the superior palpebral conjunctiva
"The superior palpebral conjunctiva is pink and healthy."
Properly examine the entire bulbar conjunctiva and sclera
"Please look to the left, to the right, up, and down."
Accurately describe the bulbar conjunctiva and sclera
"The bulbar conjunctiva and sclera are white and quiet/injected/pinguecula/conj cysts/melanosis."
Properly examine the entire cornea using a parallelepiped
Technique: High illumination, parallelepiped width, medium mag 16x, 45-60 deg angle
Properly examine the entire cornea using an optic section
Technique: High illumination, smallest width, medium mag 16x, 45-60 deg angle
Accurately describe the cornea (epithelium, stroma, endothelium)
"The corneal epithelium, stroma, endothelium are clear/scar/opacity/guttata/haze."
Properly assess the temporal anterior chamber angle using the Van Herick technique
Technique: High illumination, optic section, medium mag 16x, 60 deg angle
Accurately describe the temporal angle findings using Van Herick
"The angle is open/closed with a grade of Grade 1: <1/4, Grade 2: =1/4, Grade 3: >1/4 to 1/2, Grade 4: >= 1."
Properly examine the anterior chamber for cell and flare
Technique: Medium Mag 16x, 30-45 deg angle, short beam, parallelepiped width, high illumination
Accurately describe the anterior chamber for cell and flare
"There are no cells or flare in the anterior chamber."
Properly examine the entire iris
Technique: Medium mag 16x, wide parallelepiped beam, medium illumination
Accurately describe the iris
"The iris is flat and brown/blue/hazel/green."
Properly perform transillumination of the entire iris
Technique: Medium mag 16x, shorten beam to fit inside pupil, MAX ILLUMINATION
Accurately describe iris transillumination
"There are no iris transillumination defects/peripupillary or midperipheral TIDs/patent PI."
Examine the ocular tissues in a smooth, logical sequence
Properly instruct the patient throughout the procedure
Skill 2: 4-Mirror Gonioscopy
16 steps · unlocks with the Part III Sprint
Skill 3: Goldmann Applanation Tonometry
18 steps · unlocks with the Part III Sprint
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Equipment Checklist
Study Tips for Success
- Practice verbalizing findings out loud - this is how you'll be scored
- Time yourself during practice sessions to build pace awareness
- Focus on critical steps marked in red - these are often automatic failures
- Always confirm "DO YOU HAVE A VIEW?" before describing findings