The Ophthalmic Medical Technician conducts diagnostic tests such as central and peripheral visual field, ocular motility, color vision, or pharmacological pupil tests; or tonometry, tonography and tensilon tonography tests to determine intraocular pressure and pupil testing for size, equality and reaction prior to dilation.
Job Functions for Ophthalmic Medical Technician:
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician administers diagnostic tests such as central and peripheral visual field tests, ocular motility tests, color vision tests, and pharmacological pupil tests.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician conducts tonometry or tonography tests to determine intraocular pressure.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician administers topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician assists patients with fitting contact lenses.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician assists physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician maintains ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician measures and records lens power using lensometers.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician measures distance and near visual acuity using appropriate tests.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician operates ophthalmic equipment such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, and retinoscopes.
- The Ophthalmic Medical Technician performs advanced ophthalmic procedures including electrophysiological or microbial procedures.
This is a realistic occupation which frequently involves work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician uses hands-on technique while doing their job function. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician works closely with people and needs to be able to communicate effectively so that the patient understands their condition. Many Ophthalmic Medical Technicians work closely with the physician in order to perform their job function. They need to be able to see things at a very close range in order to do their job. Often Ophthalmic Medical Technicians need to be able to inform the physician, co-workers, and patient what is happening and what can be done to correct any problems that might be able to occur. In the office most Ophthalmic Medical Technicians need to be able to repair their equipment or at least keep it adequately maintenance.
While working with patients the Ophthalmic Medical Technician must have good people skills in order to make sure that they can keep the patient at ease while the tests are being made. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must use mathematics in order to do their job function. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must have the ability to tell when a problem is going to happen this does not mean that they must have the ability to resolve the problem but just recognize that there is a problem. In many cases the physician is the one who needs to resolve the problem but often works closely with the Ophthalmic Medical Technician in order to find a resolution.
The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must have good vision in order to correctly work with lenses that are capability of seeing things at a very close range. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must also have the ability to see things at a distance as well in order to do their job function. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician makes his diagnosis based on the information they receive after they have made the proper tests. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must have the ability to operate the autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, and retinoscopes in order to complete all tests necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must be able to use the computer in order to perform part of their job functions this includes the hard drive, soft ware programs, and data entry. There are special programs that are required in order for the Ophthalmic Medical Technician to do their job function and they must be able to use all programs required.
The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must be able to determine the type of lenses needed for the patient and the strength degree required. It is very necessary for the Ophthalmic Medical Technician to know calculus in order to get the right degree of lens correction for each patient’s eye. Usually no two eyes are the same so the corrective lens must vary in accordance with the eye. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician prepares reports for the physician to review before any diagnosis is made. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician must also file any insurance claims that are necessary to help the patient make payments for the procedure or the lens.