What Do Ophthalmic Medical Technician Do?
Career 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
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
- Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
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What Every Ophthalmic Medical Technician Should Know
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 Retinal Angiographer
- Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician with Surgical Assisting
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA)
- Ophthalmic Medical Assistant
Ophthalmic Medical Technician Job Outlook
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.

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 typical yearly salary for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is somewhere 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
Becoming an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
Are there Ophthalmic Medical Technicians education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?

The table below shows the approximate number of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians employed by various industries.

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