What is an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
Position Description Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.
Daily Life Of an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
- Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses.
- Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
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Qualities of an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
These are the skills Ophthalmic Medical Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Types of Ophthalmic Medical Technician Jobs
- Paraoptometric
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA)
- Surgical Coordinator
- Optometric Technician
- Medical Technician
Job Demand for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
There were about 44,500 jobs for Ophthalmic Medical Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,700 new jobs for Ophthalmic Medical Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,600 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Ophthalmic Medical Technician are Arizona, Utah, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, South Dakota, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Ophthalmic Medical Technician Salary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians make between $24,770 and $54,830 a year.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians who work in Minnesota, Massachusetts, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,500 |
| Alaska | $46,770 |
| Arizona | $40,450 |
| Arkansas | $31,910 |
| California | $41,890 |
| Colorado | $38,030 |
| Connecticut | $42,930 |
| Delaware | $35,940 |
| District of Columbia | $50,290 |
| Florida | $36,750 |
| Georgia | $35,120 |
| Hawaii | $37,770 |
| Idaho | $28,800 |
| Illinois | $38,180 |
| Indiana | $35,970 |
| Iowa | $36,080 |
| Kansas | $33,710 |
| Kentucky | $33,640 |
| Louisiana | $37,590 |
| Maine | $38,180 |
| Maryland | $42,510 |
| Massachusetts | $48,300 |
| Michigan | $37,400 |
| Minnesota | $50,700 |
| Mississippi | $31,020 |
| Missouri | $35,400 |
| Montana | $33,970 |
| Nebraska | $36,840 |
| Nevada | $36,030 |
| New Hampshire | $42,630 |
| New Jersey | $45,420 |
| New Mexico | $36,290 |
| New York | $34,870 |
| North Carolina | $36,030 |
| North Dakota | $37,520 |
| Ohio | $37,590 |
| Oklahoma | $34,810 |
| Oregon | $42,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,770 |
| Rhode Island | $38,230 |
| South Carolina | $37,310 |
| South Dakota | $36,150 |
| Tennessee | $36,340 |
| Texas | $33,290 |
| Utah | $33,840 |
| Vermont | $42,610 |
| Virginia | $41,340 |
| Washington | $44,050 |
| West Virginia | $33,360 |
| Wisconsin | $40,310 |
What Tools & Technology do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- AcuityPro
- EyeMD EMR
- Medflow Complete
- MediPro Medisoft Clinical
- NaviNet Open
- ezChartWriter
- iChartPlus
Becoming an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Robert Barnett via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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