The Online Theory Exam: Glaucoma Questions

Now coming to the part all of u have been waiting for: Questions asked in the online exam

Of course, I can only tell you about the questions asked in the speciality of Glaucoma which I remember. I don’t remember the exact question and options in many cases but you should get an idea about what to read.


The Glaucoma exam did not have any pictorial questions this year but other specialities did have them (Yes, I peeked). There are 60 questions with 4 options each. You are required to choose the one most appropriate answer.

•  Retrobulbar blood flow measurement: they asked about the instrument used to measure it (options included flow meter, velocimeter, colour Doppler)
• In the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study, what were the risk factors for ALT failure?
• Something about important genes in glaucoma like p53, COX, FOX, PITX2. So read basic stuff about these genes because there were around 3 or 4 questions about them.
• Something about Pigmentary glaucoma.. don’t remember what exactly
•  Number of people blind due to glaucoma globally (options included 1-2 million, 6-7 million, 20-25 million)

•  About CIGTS: what is the cause of diminution of vision of patients in the surgical arm of the study.
• What is the site of implantation of the AqueSys implant?
• Which yoga posture increases IOP:  Options were Vajrasana/Savaasana/Anulom vilom Pranayama/Sarvangasana
•  ALT laser settings
• SLT laser spot size when compared to ALT
•  What is the size of size V stimulus in HFA? (options included 16x16mm, 32x32mm, 8x8mm).
•  Which of the following causes neovascularisation without increasing IOP: carotid insufficiency, DM, CRVO, CRAO

• Who first described Hypotony maculopathy?(options included Molteno, Dellaporta, Cairns)
•  NTG can be confused for which of the following conditions? (I only remember 2 options which were pseudopapilledema and retrobulbar neuritis)
• Pulsatile blood flow is not dependent on: scleral rigidity, tear film, posture
• Something about using dorzolamide in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, don’t remember exactly
•  Something about using Glaucoma drainage devices in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, don’t remember exactly
•  Poor prognostic factors for congenital glaucoma (options included cataract, corneal diameter)
• Something about the contraindications for goniotomy
• About the contour line for Glaucoma probability Score (GPS) in Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph
• Sine wave sign on Gonioscopy is seen in which condition?
• Which of the following is a diagnostic method for drusens of the optic disc? (CT scan was the answer)

•  Argon laser produces white burns on the iris in which condition? (Answer is epithelial downgrowth)
• Which of the following is a risk factor for glaucoma progression? (options included Low CCT, High IOP)
• ERG in optic disc hypoplasia
• Which of the following conditions is associated with optic disc hypoplasia? (answer was Myopia)
•  Tram track appearance is found on imaging in which condition of the optic nerve?
• Principle of working of Scanning laser polarimetry? (Answer was birefringence)
•  Which of the following can be used for self tonometry? (options were Rebound tonometer, NCT, Schiotz, Perkins)

• Therapeutic use of Zeiss 4 mirror gonioscope? (answer was to break an attack of acute angle closure glaucoma)
• Where is Dipivefrin is converted into epinephrine? (options included cornea, tear film, conjunctiva)

Thats all I remember. If anyone else who has given the exam remembers any more questions,please do not hesitate to post it as a comment.  That would be a huge help to others who intend to give the exam in future.

 The results will be posted on the AIOS website within a day of the examination. You will also be notified of your score by email. You are required to score at least 70% to qualify for part 2.

PS: In my next post: Tips on what to expect and how to prepare for the exam.

FAICO: The Online Theory Examination

 Part 1 of the FAICO exam is the online screening exam.

For me, this was conducted at a computer centre in Bangalore (you can select your center when you apply; the options are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore). 

The Hall ticket will be sent u by email and u will have to bring a printout of it with u. (Just showing it to them on the mobile will not be enough, because u have to submit the hall ticket at ur centre). The hall ticket will have your exact centre address and exam timing. 

 I recieved my hall ticket around 5 days before the exam. But AIOS did send me an email around 3 weeks before the exam saying that my centre would be in Bangalore, so that I could make travel arrangements.

You give the exam on a computer terminal. There were 14 terminals in the hall. U can sit anywhere u want. U enter a username(AIOS Membership number, if i remember correctly) and password (which they provide) to  begin the test.

1 hour, 60 MCQs. 4 options for each question, choose one option. No negative marking. U can leave the hall whenever u finish the test.

(One thing to note here is that, the circular posted on the AIOS website said there would be 100 questions, but there were only 60. I don’t know if this was only for glaucoma or for everyone in general. So, people who gave exams in other specialties, please clarify regarding this)

 You have to get at least 70% correct to qualify for Part 2.

The software used for the examination is pretty convenient:

•  The left side of the screen gives you an color coded overview of all the questions including how many questions in total, which questions you have answered, which questions you have left to answer, which questions have you flagged to come back to later. 
• There is a numbered icon for each question and you can go back to any question, any time. 
• You can also change your response to any question any time. 
• You can jump to any question by clicking on the numbered icon of that question and it will be displayed on the right side of the screen.
•  The right side of the screen has the current question you are working on along with the 4 options. 
• You have options to go to the previous or next question or to flag the question in case you want to come back to it later.

• There is a timer on the top of the screen and the software automatically stops the exam after one hour.
• There is an "end test" button along with the last question. U can press this when you are done with the exam.

The list of successful candidates were displayed the very next day on the AIOS website. You will receive your score by email in 2-3 days.

The Fellowship of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO)

I had recently successfully cleared the FAICO (Fellowship of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology) examination conducted by the AIOS. As Ophthalmologists in India may already know, FAICO is conducted for those who have completed their postgraduation in Ophthalmology and have at least a year’s experience in any particular sub speciality (ie Cornea, IOL, Glaucoma, Retina, Oculoplasty, etc). It is being conducted annually since 2010.

FAICO is a 2 part examination:

1.       Part 1 is an online screening examination (1 hour) for which the cut off is 70%.

2.       Part 2: OSCE and Viva

Therefore it is mainly attempted by those who have completed or are currently doing a long term fellowship in any sub specialty. It is also attempted by those who have not done any formal fellowship but have worked in any particular sub specialty for at least a year.

When I set out to prepare for this examination, I soon realized that not even one person who has cleared the examination in the past 6 years has posted their experiences online. The doctors applying for this exam could range from someone currently doing their fellowship/senior residency after PG to doctors who finished their training and have been practicing for a long time.

So currently, anyone attempting the exam for the first time has no idea what type/level of  assessment they are about to undergo.

So anybody attempting the examination for the first time has to look up doctors who have successfully cleared the exam (it’s posted on the AIOS website), contact them personally to ask them about their experience.

How I wish there was a website where all doctors who clear the exam post their experiences so that others would benefit.(something like mrcophth.org, but that would be too much to expect at this point as the examination is relatively new)

Well, I have decided to take the first step with this blog and will be posting my experiences and, of course, what I remember of the questions asked to me.

I request all my fellow doctors who have  attempted/cleared the FAICO exam in any sub speciality of ophthalmology to please do the same as it will be a huge help to those who intend to give the exam in future.