What Do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Do?

Ophthalmic Medical Technician Definition 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.

Ophthalmic Medical Technician Responsibilities

• Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
• Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
• Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
• Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
• Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
• Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.

Ophthalmic Medical Technician Skills

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.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Related Job Titles

• Certified Ophthalmic Technician
• Certified Retinal Angiographer
• Ophthalmology Assistant
• Surgical Coordinator
• Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Job Outlook for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 44,500 jobs in the United States for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.5% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,700 new jobs for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,600 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians are Texas, Florida, and California.

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?

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Make between $24,770 and $54,830 a year. An Ophthalmic Medical Technician median salary is $36,530.

How much do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Minnesota	$50,700
District of Columbia	$50,290
Massachusetts	$48,300
Alaska	$46,770
New Jersey	$45,420
Washington	$44,050
Connecticut	$42,930
New Hampshire	$42,630
Vermont	$42,610
Maryland	$42,510
Oregon	$42,170
California	$41,890
Virginia	$41,340
Arizona	$40,450
Wisconsin	$40,310
Rhode Island	$38,230
Maine	$38,180
Illinois	$38,180
Colorado	$38,030
Hawaii	$37,770
Louisiana	$37,590
Ohio	$37,590
North Dakota	$37,520
Michigan	$37,400
South Carolina	$37,310
Nebraska	$36,840
Pennsylvania	$36,770
Florida	$36,750
Alabama	$36,500
Tennessee	$36,340
New Mexico	$36,290
South Dakota	$36,150
Iowa	$36,080
North Carolina	$36,030
Nevada	$36,030
Indiana	$35,970
Delaware	$35,940
Missouri	$35,400
Georgia	$35,120
New York	$34,870
Oklahoma	$34,810
Montana	$33,970
Utah	$33,840
Kansas	$33,710
Kentucky	$33,640
West Virginia	$33,360
Texas	$33,290
Arkansas	$31,910
Mississippi	$31,020
Idaho	$28,800

What Tools do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ophthalmic Medical Technicians may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word

Where Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Work

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons