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Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

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.

What you’d do

  • 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.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Service Orientation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Coordination

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)
  • Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (Ophthalmic Medical Tech)
  • Ophthalmic Technologist (Ophthalmic Tech)
  • Surgical Coordinator
  • Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS)
  • Ophthalmic Echographer

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