Summary Report for:
29-2057.00 - Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
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.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
Tasks
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
- Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses.
- Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
- Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
- Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
- Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| 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 |
| Medical computed tomography CT or CAT scanners or tubes — Optical coherence tomography OCT scanners; Retinal tomography machines |
| Ophthalmic lensometers — Automated lensometers; Manual lensometers |
| Opticians tools or accessories — Manual pupillometers; Millimeter rules; Optical screwdrivers; Wide jaw angling pliers |
| Ultrasonic examination equipment — A-scan biometers; B-Scan biometers; Bio-microscopes |
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 |
Work Values
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Employment data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
Industry data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
| Median wages (2012) | $16.46 hourly, $34,240 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) |
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.
