Are you interested in starting a career in the field of eye care? If yes, then becoming an Ophthalmic Technician may be the right career path for you. Here’s a step by step guide to help you decide whether this is the right job for you or not.

Duties and Responsibilities

Some of the main duties and responsibilities that you will be expected to perform include:

• Obtaining medical history from clients before conducting an eye examination
• Screening patients for medical conditions or any medical supplements which they might be taking
• Performing a number of tests to help the ophthalmologist make the correct diagnosis, such as central and peripheral visual field, visual tracking, etc
• Administering tests for color vision and pupil dilation as well as intraocular pressure
• Conducting an array of administrative and maintenance duties
• Evaluating contact lenses to see if they fit properly as well as instructing the patients on how to use them and take care of them
• Obtaining eye measurements in order to help the ophthalmologist prescribe the right sized contact lenses
• Assisting emergency and walk-in patients and determining which physician they should seek
• Maintaining the different optical and surgical instruments
• Taking care of consultation and examination rooms and keeping them stocked with equipment and supplies
• Assisting with minor eye surgeries
• Booking appointments, contacting patients for recall examinations, and ordering supplies

Educational Pre-requisites

After completing high school, you are required to complete a minimum of two years of college before starting your ophthalmic training program. In general, six-month or one-year training programs will prepare you to become an ophthalmic assistant, whereas two additional years are needed for you to qualify as Ophthalmic Technician.

These programs may vary in length, but many involve some common subjects like anatomy, ocular motility and eye diseases, ophthalmic surgical procedures, etc.

License and Certification

Once you successfully complete your training from an accredited institution, you will be eligible to take a national certifying examination.

Obtaining a certification as an ophthalmic technician is voluntary. However, if you want to earn it, you should sit for the exam administered by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. An Ophthalmic technician can also qualify for the national certifying exam offered by the American Orthotics Council (AOC). However, in order to renew his/her certification, he/she must continue his/her education every three years.

Career Outlook

As a result of the aging population and the advances made in the field of vision care, the demand for this job keeps on increasing steadily. As an Ophthalmic Technician, you can expect to work at an Ophthalmologist’s clinic, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.

The remuneration packages involved within this field are also quite lucrative, with a starting average income of $ 11 an hour. Moreover, you can easily progress your career by continuing your education to become an Ophthalmologist.

Becoming an Ophthalmic Technician is an exciting career; all it takes is some patience and a little bit of hard work.

Source by Lisa Thomas