Career Profile: Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 67,200 people employed as ophthalmic medical technicians in the United States. The median annual salary is $37,180. Entry level employees earn approximately $28,910 per year and senior employees earn approximately $58,500 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• 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.
• Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
• Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
• Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
• Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
• Take and document patients' medical histories.
• Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
• 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.
• Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
• Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
• Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
• Assist patients to select eyewear.
• 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.

Back