Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Health Science > Diagnostic ServicesProjected Growth: Much faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Medium Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to 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.
Common job titles of Ophthalmic Medical Technologists include:
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Experience and Education
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.
48.15% said they needed a Post-Secondary Certificate.
11.11% said they needed a Associate's Degree.
Tasks
Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
Take and document patients' medical histories.
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.
Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.
Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.
Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff.
Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
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.
Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects.
Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods.
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma.
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).
Conduct low vision blindness tests.
Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye.
Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.
Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures.
Tools
Wavefront aberrometers
Visual acuity cards
Titmus vision screeners
Tangent screens
Stereo vision tests
Steam autoclaves
Specular microscopes
All ToolsSnellen eye charts
Scanning laser ophthalmoscopes
Retinal tomography machines
Potential acuity meters
Phoroptors
Personal computers
Optokinetic drums
Optical coherence tomography OCT scanners
Ophthalmoscopes
Ophthalmic tonometers
Ophthalmic tonographers
Ophthalmic syringes
Ophthalmic slit lamps
Ophthalmic retinoscopes
Ophthalmic perimeters
Ocular transilluminators
Naugle exophthalmometers
Millimeter rules
Manual pupillometers
Manual lensometers
Manual blood pressure cuffs
Maddox rods
Luedde exophthalmometers
Laser facsimile machines
Jaeger lid plates
Hertel exophthalmometers
Handheld occluders
Fundus cameras
Eye chart projectors
Electroretinogram equipment
Digital pupillometers
Corneal topographers
Corneal pachymeters
Combination refractor keratometers
Color blindness tests
Brightness acuity testers
Bio-microscopes
B-Scan biometers
Autorefractors
Automated lensometers
Amsler grids
A-scan biometers
Technologies
AcuityPro
EyeMD EMR
ezChartWriter
iChartPlus
Medflow Complete
MediPro Medisoft Clinical
NaviNet Open
Skills
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Abilities
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Sensory Abilities › Visual Abilities › Near Vision