Ophthalmology Technician Career Guide

Overview

An ophthalmology technician is a well-trained individual who deals with the most sensitive part of the human body, which is the eye. They are individuals who have received training on the basic anatomy of the eye, its disorders, vision measurements, and eye muscle exercises that can be practiced for the purpose of preventing blindness and maintaining normal vision. Being employed in this field can be rewarding, especially because you will have the chance to work with ophthalmologists and other professionals.

Job Duties

Ophthalmology technicians have the primary responsibility of being able to provide the help that is needed by professionals in the field of ophthalmology. They are responsible for the maintenance of surgical instruments, administration of diagnostic tests, and the management of eye medications. They work with ophthalmic surgical technicians to help in the preparation of the instruments and equipment that will be needed for treatment and diagnosis of the patient. They are experts in ultrasounds, chiropters, tonometers and A-scan biometry.

These practitioners also perform clinical photography, ocular motility, and visual fields. They also make use of the ultrasound equipment to take a measurement of the eyes. Once treatments are completed, they also prescribed drugs to the patients, but such can only be done when they are under the supervision of doctors. If there are juniors in the employment setting, the ophthalmology technicians also oversee them and assure that they function in accordance with what is being expected from them.

Career Outlook

One of the most common employment settings for this job would be health and personal care establishments, as well as offices of various health practitioners. Many of the people in this field have flexible hours of work, which provides them with more than enough opportunity to pursue further education. With better qualifications, such as higher education, there is a possibility to become an office manager or medical technologist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 27,630 people employed in this field in 2011, with 8,290 of them working in health and personal care stores. There is an increase in the need for employees in this area, basically because of the increase as well in the number of people who are having vision-related problems.

Education Requirements

An associate degree in healthcare or certificate is needed to have a career in this area. At the associate level, some of the most common things that you can learn will include taking eye measurements, noting patient history, informing patients about the correct usage of contact lenses, and how to explain the procedures to the patient. Some of the courses that will be taken include physiology, ocular anatomy, light-based imagery, pharmacology, and surgical and optics assisting.

You can take certificate programs, which can be completed in about a year. Aside from the need to pass the final examination, gaining a certificate will also require you to undergo a variety of training programs, which will provide you with the opportunity to gain practical experience and knowledge. It is essential to first consult with the policies of the state at which you are living because they may have different requirements when it comes to taking certifications. If you want to be certified, one of you options would be to pass the examination that is administered by the Joint Commission on Allied Heath Personnel in Ophthalmology.