What You Need to Know About 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.
Life As an Ophthalmic Medical Technician: What Do They Do?
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
- Take and document patients’ medical histories.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
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Skills Needed to be 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.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Ophthalmic Medical Technician Jobs
- Optometric Technician
- Ophthalmic Assistant
- Ophthalmic Photographer
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA)
- Paraoptometric
Is There Going to be Demand for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?
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.
Ophthalmic Medical Technician Salary
The average yearly salary of an Ophthalmic Medical Technician ranges between $24,770 and $54,830.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians who work in Minnesota, Massachusetts, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians make 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
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
- EyeMD EMR
- MediPro Medisoft Clinical
- NaviNet Open
- ezChartWriter
- iChartPlus
- AcuityPro
- Medflow Complete
How do I Become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
What education is needed to be an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Sector

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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