What is 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.
Daily Life Of an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
- Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Assist patients to select eyewear.
- Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
- Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
When polled, Ophthalmic Medical Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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
- Ophthalmology Technician
- Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
- Ophthalmic Photographer
- Ophthalmology Assistant
- Surgical Coordinator
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. The BLS estimates 4,600 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
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
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
Learn what Ophthalmic Medical Technician education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Are Employed

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians work in the following industries:

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