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Ophthalmic Medical Technician  What They Do

Just the Facts


Ophthalmic Medical Technicians and Technologists Career Video



Assists 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 career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.


A person in this career:

  • Conducts tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
  • Measures visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
  • Takes and documents patients' medical histories.
  • Administers topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
  • Conducts visual field tests to measure field of vision.
  • Operates ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
  • Cleans or sterilizes ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
  • Takes anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
  • Measures corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
  • Measures and records lens power, using lensometers.

Insider Info

Dig into the details and check out what people in this job have to say about their work.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Weekend work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Certified Ophthalmic Assistant --
  • Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician --
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician --
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician with Surgical Assisting --
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA) --
  • Ophthalmic Assistant --
  • Ophthalmic Medical Assistant --
  • Ophthalmic Technician --
  • Surgical Coordinator --