Summary Report for:
29-2099.03 - Ophthalmic Medical Technologists and Technicians
Conduct 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.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Interests | Work Values | Wages & Employment
Tasks
- Administer diagnostic tests such as central and peripheral visual field tests, ocular motility tests, color vision tests, and pharmacological pupil tests.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to determine intraocular pressure.
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Assist patients with fitting contact lenses.
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures.
- Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
- Measure and record lens power using lensometers.
- Measure distance and near visual acuity using appropriate tests.
- Operate ophthalmic equipment such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, and retinoscopes.
- Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures including electrophysiological or microbial procedures.
Interests
Interest code: RSI
| Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. |
| Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. |
| Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. |
Work Values
| Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
| Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
| Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
Employment data collected from Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other.
| Median wages (2008) | $18.25 hourly, $37,950 annual |
| Employment (2006) | 79,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | 
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 18,000 additional employees |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data
and 2006-2016 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2006-2016). "Projected need" represents job openings due to growth and net replacement.