Ophthalmic Technician
Quick Facts
Median Salary$41,444
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth+54.54%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
An Ophthalmic Technician makes prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses by cutting and shaping lenses according to individual prescriptions. May make lenses for other optical equipment, such as telescopes or microscopes. Works in medical equipment manufacturing facilities and laboratories, retail stores, or in the offices of optometrists and physicians.
Core Tasks:
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
- Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
- Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
- Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
- Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
- Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
- Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses.
- Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
What to expect as an Ophthalmic Technician
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
55% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Ophthalmic Technician related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
2652 openings for Ophthalmic Technicians
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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