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Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $45,570 Median per year · $21.91/hr Most earn $35,700–$61,940

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
  • Assist patients to select eyewear.
  • Take and document patients' medical histories.
  • Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
  • Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
  • Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
21% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 11,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians55.0%
  • Offices of optometrists31.6%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals4.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Ophthalmic Medical Technician is an entry-level job. You can often start with a high school diploma and on-the-job training, and people usually have about 1 to 2 years of related experience before they land it.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong science and math classes, since they build the basics for reading charts, handling medical tools, and learning clinic routines.

  2. Ophthalmic Office Assistant

    1-2 years

    Work at an eye doctor's front desk or in patient intake, where you learn how eye clinics run, how patients are checked in, and basic eye-care terms before moving into clinical tasks.

  3. Ophthalmic Medical Technician

    1-2 years of prior experience needed first

    Assist the ophthalmologist by running eye exams, giving eye medications, and teaching patients how to care for and use glasses or contact lenses.

Where it can lead

  1. Ophthalmic Medical Technologist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take on more technical testing and imaging work, which usually comes with a certificate or apprenticeship and a bigger share of patient testing responsibility.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and health or anatomy classesThese classes teach you how the eye and body work, which is the foundation for eye exam and medication work.
  • Get a part-time job in a medical office or clinic front deskWorking with patients and records gives you real exposure to clinic routines and builds the experience employers ask for.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or senior centerHelping patients with simple tasks builds comfort around people who may be anxious or need extra help, a key part of this job.
  • Join a health occupations or science clubClubs often offer hands-on activities and connections to local health professionals who can answer your questions.
  • Practice clear communicationExplaining things to classmates or family in plain words prepares you to teach patients how to use glasses or contact lenses.

In college

  • Take anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology coursesThese courses build the vocabulary and body knowledge you need to understand eye care and talk with ophthalmologists and patients.
  • Look for a medical office or clinic jobA part-time role in an eye clinic or medical office gives you hands-on experience and a chance to see if ophthalmic work suits you.
  • Ask about a certificate or apprenticeship in ophthalmic or medical assistingTraining programs often lead to the next level, Ophthalmic Medical Technologist, so learning what is offered near you helps you plan ahead.
  • Join a pre-health or health professions student groupThese groups connect you with peers and local health professionals and often share job and shadowing opportunities.
  • Build strong customer service and record-keeping skillsAccurate charting and friendly patient care are daily tasks in this job, and strong skills here make you a stronger candidate.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask an eye clinic if you can shadow staff or volunteer on a day off. Seeing the daily work up close helps you decide if it fits you and gives you clinic contacts.
  • Build people skills now. Patients often feel nervous, so being calm, clear, and kind when explaining things matters as much as technical skill.
  • Keep a simple record of any health care, customer service, or office work you do. Employers in this field look for reliable, detail-focused people with some experience.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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