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Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$48,790	14300	7.0%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$48,790

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

14300

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

7.0%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Test patient vision.
Administer non-intravenous medications.
Test patient vision.
Test patient vision.
Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
Assist healthcare practitioners during surgery.
Calculate numerical data for medical activities.
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
Test patient vision.
Test patient vision.
Test patient vision.
Test patient vision.
Test patient vision.
Create advanced digital images of patients using computer imaging systems.
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
Record patient medical histories.
Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
Test patient vision.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
Test patient vision.
Test patient vision.
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
Train medical providers.
Supervise medical support personnel.
Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments.
Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
Clean medical equipment or facilities.
Test patient vision.
Instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment.
Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
Record patient medical histories.
Diagnose medical conditions.
Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.

Work Values

Independence

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Achievement

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Tasks

Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
Take and document patients' medical histories.
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.
Perform ophthalmic triage, in the office or by phone, to assess severity of patients' conditions.
Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications.
Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods.
Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff.
Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma.
Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye.
Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects.
Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
Conduct tests, such as the Amsler Grid test, to measure central visual field used in the early diagnosis of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diseases of the eye.
Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.
Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
Conduct low vision blindness tests.
Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures.
Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.
Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT).

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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