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Ophthalmic Medical Technician

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What Does it Take to Be an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

Example of Ophthalmic Medical Technician Job 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.
  • Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
  • Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
  • Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
  • Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
  • Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.

Skills Needed to be 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.

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

  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician with Surgical Assisting
  • Ophthalmic Assistant
  • Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician
  • Ophthalmic Photographer
  • Certified Ophthalmic Assistant

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. There will be an estimated 4,600 positions for Ophthalmic Medical Technician per year.

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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.

Average Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary

The typical yearly salary for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is somewhere between $24,770 and $54,830.

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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

What Tools 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
  • EyeMD EMR
  • MediPro Medisoft Clinical
  • NaviNet Open
  • ezChartWriter
  • iChartPlus
  • AcuityPro
  • Medflow Complete

How do I Become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

Education needed to be an Ophthalmic Medical Technician:

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What work experience do I need to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

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Who Employs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:

Image Credit: Robert Barnett via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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