Details Report for:
29-2099.05 - Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
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.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.
- Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
- 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.
- Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
- 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.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
- Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT).
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- 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.
- Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures.
- Perform flourescein angiography of the eye.
- Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.
- Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects.
- Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
- Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
- Conduct low vision blindness tests.
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
- Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
Tools & Technology Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Tools used in this occupation:
| Chart projectors or accessories — Eye chart projectors; Potential acuity meters |
| Depth perception apparatus — Stereo vision tests |
| Exophthalmometers — Hertel exophthalmometers; Luedde exophthalmometers; Naugle exophthalmometers |
| Eye charts or vision cards — Amsler grids; Snellen eye charts; Visual acuity cards |
| Eye occluders — Handheld occluders; Maddox rods |
| Facsimile machines — Fax machines |
| Lid plates for ophthalmic surgery — Jaeger lid plates |
| Medical computed tomography CT or CAT scanners or tubes — Optical coherence tomography OCT scanners; Retinal tomography machines |
| Mercury blood pressure units — Manual blood pressure cuffs |
| Ophthalmic lensometers — Automated lensometers; Manual lensometers |
| Ophthalmic tonometers or accessories — Ophthalmic tonographers; Ophthalmic tonometers |
| Ophthalmic visual function analyzers — Fundus cameras; Wavefront aberrometers |
| Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets — Ophthalmoscopes; Scanning laser ophthalmoscopes |
| Opticians tools or accessories — Digital pupillometers; Manual pupillometers; Millimeter rules |
| Thickness measuring devices — Corneal pachymeters |
| Ultrasonic examination equipment — A-scan biometers; B-Scan biometers; Bio-microscopes |
| Vision testing stereoscopes — Titmus vision screeners |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Electronic mail software — Email software |
| Internet browser software — Web browser software |
| Medical software — AcuityPro VisionScience Software; EyeMD EMR; MediPro Medisoft Clinical; NaviNet software (see all 7 examples) |
Work Values Save Table (XLS/CSV)
 Extent |
Work Value |
|
|---|---|---|
67   |
Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
| 67 |
Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
| 56 |
Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
| 56 |
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
| 50 |
Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
| 50 |
Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
Employment data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
Industry data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
| Median wages (2012) | $19.57 hourly, $40,700 annual |
| Employment (2010) | 94,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) | 
Faster than average (20% to 28%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) | 40,400 |
| Top industries (2010) | Health Care and Social Assistance (83% employed in this sector)
|
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
