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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.
Other titles employers use
Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech) · Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant · Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) · Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA) · Health Technician (Health Tech) · Ophthalmic Assistant · Ophthalmic Diagnostic Sonographer · Ophthalmic Medical Assistant
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and helping work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.6 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.8 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 59%
- A certificate or some college 32%
- A two-year degree 9%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 8,530
- Job openings each year
- 990
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 25.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,530 | 990 | 25.1% |
| New York | 7,480 | 160 | 27.0% |
| California | 5,800 | 670 | 23.4% |
| Florida | 5,770 | 670 | 23.0% |
| North Carolina | 4,020 | 460 | 20.7% |
| Tennessee | 3,710 | 430 | 22.8% |
| Arizona | 3,420 | 410 | 34.1% |
| Ohio | 3,390 | 370 | 6.9% |
| Illinois | 2,740 | 310 | 10.9% |
| Georgia | 2,710 | 310 | 18.9% |
| Virginia | 2,140 | 250 | 21.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,850 | 210 | 12.8% |
| Indiana | 1,820 | 200 | 13.0% |
| New Jersey | 1,730 | 200 | 17.7% |
| Colorado | 1,720 | 200 | 19.4% |
| Michigan | 1,660 | 180 | 10.7% |
| Washington | 1,490 | 200 | 19.2% |
| Alabama | 1,380 | 160 | 19.0% |
| Maryland | 1,370 | 160 | 14.2% |
| Oklahoma | 1,280 | 140 | 10.3% |
| Wisconsin | 1,260 | 140 | 15.6% |
| Kentucky | 1,180 | 130 | 13.5% |
| South Carolina | 1,020 | 120 | 27.5% |
| Oregon | 970 | 110 | 19.8% |
| Minnesota | 890 | 100 | 9.9% |
| Mississippi | 840 | 90 | 9.1% |
| Louisiana | 820 | 90 | 10.8% |
| Missouri | 810 | 90 | 12.5% |
| Massachusetts | 780 | 90 | 13.0% |
| Connecticut | 680 | 80 | 11.5% |
| Kansas | 680 | 80 | 11.5% |
| Arkansas | 670 | 80 | 19.6% |
| Iowa | 610 | 70 | 22.0% |
| Nevada | 530 | 60 | 12.8% |
| North Dakota | 460 | 50 | 15.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 430 | 50 | 19.4% |
| Utah | 430 | 50 | 59.3% |
| Nebraska | 390 | 40 | 14.7% |
| New Mexico | 390 | 50 | 34.5% |
| Montana | 360 | 40 | 24.1% |
| New Hampshire | 360 | 40 | 12.5% |
| Maine | 350 | 40 | 6.1% |
| Idaho | 310 | 40 | 29.2% |
| Rhode Island | 300 | 30 | 7.1% |
| District of Columbia | 260 | 30 | 18.2% |
| South Dakota | 250 | 30 | 19.0% |
| West Virginia | 220 | 30 | 10.0% |
| Delaware | 180 | 20 | 20.0% |
| Vermont | 150 | 20 | 7.1% |
| Alaska | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Wyoming | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.