Occupations/29-2057.00
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
48%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
63%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
75%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Mostly routine
Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
- Mostly routine
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Take and document patients' medical histories.
- 02Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- 03Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
- 04Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- 05Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- 06Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.62
- Degree of automation2.73
- Time sitting2.73
- Originality (ability)2.00
- Conflict situations2.76
- Hands-on objects/tools3.82
- Outdoors / weather1.00
- Disease exposure4.27
- Decision freedom3.91
Top abilities
- Oral Expression3.88
- Oral Comprehension3.88
- Near Vision3.88
- Speech Clarity3.62
- Written Expression3.38
- Problem Sensitivity3.38
- Written Comprehension3.25
- Deductive Reasoning3.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.12
- Active Listening3.62
- Writing3.12
- Speaking3.25
- Mathematics2.50
- Science2.00
- Critical Thinking3.00
- Active Learning3.00
- Learning Strategies2.62
- Monitoring3.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 15 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr $33,993 2 yr — Associate · CIP 51.18 |
Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $6,200 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Ridgewater College Willmar, MN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $6,100 | 100% | 36% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $6,000 | 100% | 37% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $5,900 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Graduate certificate · CIP 51.18 |
University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $13,400 | 68% | 73% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $5,700 | 100% | 35% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 51.18 |
Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $6,300 | 100% | 48% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Lake Superior College Duluth, MN · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $5,900 | 100% | 38% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $4,800 | 100% | 25% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Macomb Community College Warren, MI · Public | Optometric Technician/Assistant 51.1802 | $4,200 | 100% | 22% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |