What Do Ophthalmic Medical Technician Do?
Occupation 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
- Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
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What Every Ophthalmic Medical Technician Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Ophthalmic Medical Technicians say are important on the job.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Medical Technician
- Retinal Angiographer
- Ophthalmic Technician
- Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician
- Ophthalmology Assistant
Is There Going to be Demand for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 44,500 jobs in the United States for Ophthalmic Medical Technician. 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.
How Much Does an Ophthalmic Medical Technician Make?
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.
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ophthalmic Medical Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- 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
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 Work

Below are examples of industries where Ophthalmic Medical Technicians work:

References:
Image Credit: Robert Barnett via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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