OKAP Exam Pearls for the Second Year Resident

by Lee T. Thurber, MD

The ophthalmology board and OKAP exams are intimidating hurdles to clear, but preparing properly can help you excel on these examinations. Here are a few tips to maximize your chances for success on test day.

1. Study, study, study. It sounds obvious, but daily reading pays off. If you see a diagnosis in the clinic, read about it later that day to further your understanding. Don’t underestimate the value of repetition, and don’t hesitate to make flash cards, summary sheets, or whatever works best for you.

2. Start preparing early. The volume of material covered on these exams is obviously daunting, therefore, routine reading during residency makes reviewing the material a little easier prior to the test. Start a focused review of all topics two or three months prior to the exam to allow ample time to cover everything.

3. Have a plan. Utilize a calendar and determine which topics you plan to cover in a given week or month. Determine how much time you plan to study each day, and do your best to stick to that plan. A couple hours of study time each day (or more if you’re “on a roll”) can pay dividends on exam day.

4. Utilize review resources. Several high quality board review books, CDs, and websites are available. It is important to find resources that cover the exam material in a thorough, but efficient manner. Ophthalmology Review Manual by Chern is a popular choice.

5. Attend a review course. These offer an intense review in a few days, and most courses provide an excellent binder of lecture notes that serve as a great review resource. Using the notes from a review course can save time and take the place of reading several review books.

6. Review sample questions. Get a feel for the type of questions that are asked on the exam. One resource is Review Questions in Ophthalmology by Kenneth C. Chern and Kenneth W. Wright. It provides answers and explanations to all the questions.

7. Optics, optics, optics. The optics questions can seem confusing on the surface, but they usually have a definite right or wrong mathematical answer. Mastering the optics formulas and doing practice problems can be quite fruitful. A great book is Last Minute Optics: A Concise Review of Optics, Refraction and Contact Lenses by David G. Hunter and Constance E. West.

8. Look at pictures. These tests are filled with pictures, including external photos, retina photos, fluorescein angiograms, and even X-rays and CT scans. Using an ophthalmology atlas is a good idea. Clinical Ophthalmology: A Systemic Approach by Jack J. Kanski has excellent photos, and http://www.redatlas.com/ is also excellent.

9. Be well rested and confident. Get a good night’s sleep before the exam. Follow your normal routine in the morning with breakfast or a cup of coffee. Trust that your training and preparation will yield success on test day.

10. Relax and do your best! You’ve made it this far by working hard and passing hundreds of tests. Let the next test be one more that you pass easily. During your review time, don’t neglect other aspects of your life. Fulfill your family responsibilities. Manage stress through exercise, yoga, music, or other activities.

Best of luck!