What Does it Take to Be an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
Job 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.
What Do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
- Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
- Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
Featured schools near , edit
Qualities of an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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
- Ophthalmic Photographer
- Ophthalmic Technician
- Retinal Angiographer
- Ophthalmic Medical Technician
- Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician
Ophthalmic Medical Technician Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 44,500 jobs for Ophthalmic Medical Technician in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 4,600 positions for Ophthalmic Medical Technician per 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.
Salary for an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
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.
How much do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| 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
Are there Ophthalmic Medical Technicians education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
References:
Image Credit: Robert Barnett via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
HealthcareDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© HealthcareDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.