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The CSAO is comprised of seven components, each of which represents a distinct and essential collection of attributes and competencies of an optometrist. The presence of all seven components of competence in an individual is necessary for the profession of optometry in Canada to recognize that individual as a competent optometrist. Each component is tested using either written examinations or performance examinations. The Guide to the CSAO will provide you with additional information on the subject matter of the Component and the distribution of questions within the subject matter.
Each of the Following components of the CSAO must be
individually passed in order to successfully complete the CSAO
| Optometric Knowledge |
The Optometric Knowledge Component consists of 380 multiple choice questions. These questions are administered in 3 - three hour sessions over two days. Questions focus on:
- Radiation, Light & Optics
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- Human and Visual Development & Aging
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| Ocular Therapeutics |
The Ocular Therapeutics component consists of 120 multiple choice questions relating to the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and is administered in 1 – 3 hour session. Questions focus on:
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- Ocular Disease/Trauma: Treatment, Management & Prognosis
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| Clinical Judgement |
The Clinical Judgement component consists of 100 multiple choice questions relating to different case scenarios and is administered in 1 – 3 hour session. Cases focus on:
- Refractive conditions of the eye and their management
- Accommodative conditions of the eye and vision system and their treatment and management
- Oculomotor conditions of the eye and vision system and their treatment and management
- Sensory-integrative conditions of the eye and vision system and their treatment and management
- Ocular disease and trauma and its treatment and management
- Systemic disease and its treatment and management
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| Clinical Skills |
The four skills components consist of the accurate performance of common clinical techniques performed associated with four different clinical scenarios. These four components are administered in 1-four hour session as follows: |
Skill Set 1: Interviewing and assessing refractive and accommodative conditions
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- Pupillary Distance and Static Retinoscopy
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- Interpersonal & Communication Skills
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Skill Set 2: Assessing Oculomotor and Sensory-Integrative functions
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- Amplitude of Accommodation
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- Extraocular Muscle Functions
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- Interpersonal & Communication Skills
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Skill Set 3: Assessing Ocular and System Disease
- Confrontation Visual Fields
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- Fundus Lens with Biomicroscopy
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- Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
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- Interpersonal & Communication Skills
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Skill Set 4: Assessing ophthalmic Appliances
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- Preparation/placement of rigid contact lens
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- Preparation/Placement of Soft Toric Contact Lens
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- Lensometry & Verification of Spectacles
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- Adjustment of Spectacles/Frames
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- Diagnostic RGP Contact Lens & Removal
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- Diagnostic Soft Toric Contact Lens & Removal
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- Interpersonal & Communication Skills
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