Description
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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
- Investigative
- Social
Work Values
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Self-Control
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Concern for Others
Tasks
- 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.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Detailed Work Activities
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Technology Skills
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
- Office suite software
Abilities
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
National Contact Lens Examiners Advanced CertificationCertifying Organization
American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistCertifying Organization
International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology
Type
Core
Certificate name
Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound BiometristCertifying Organization
International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certified Paraoptometric Technician - PracticalCertifying Organization
Commission on Paraoptometric Certification
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certified Paraoptometric TechnicianCertifying Organization
Commission on Paraoptometric Certification
Type
Specialty
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $35,510 |
| Median (50%) | $41,540 |
| High (90%) | $52,315 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $43,174 |
| Mid Level | $53,753 |
| Senior Level | $64,103 |
| Expert Level | $121,939 |
Employability
There are currently 74,800 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 85,300 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 14%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 14%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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