Occupations · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 29-2099.05

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
Take and document patients' medical histories.
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.
Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Perform ophthalmic triage, in the office or by phone, to assess severity of patients' conditions.
Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.
Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening3.9

Speaking3.9

Critical Thinking3.2

Writing3.1

Reading Comprehension3.1

Monitoring3.0

Learning Strategies3.0

Active Learning3.0

Mathematics2.6

Science2.2

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Autodesk AutoCAD●JavaScript●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft Word●SAP software●AcuityProComputer aided design and drafting CADD softwareEmail softwareEyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems EyeMD EMRHypertext preprocessor PHPMedflow CompleteMediPro Medisoft ClinicalNaviNet OpenWeb browser softwareezChartWriteriChartPlus

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Exposed to Disease or Infections+2.3 above average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures−1.3 below average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−1.3 below average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled−1.2 below average

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled+1.1 above average

Physical Proximity+1.0 above average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable−1.0 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)30%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)25%

Bachelor's Degree15%

Some College Courses10%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic5.4

Conventional4.7

Investigative4.7

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications.
Perform ophthalmic triage in the office or via phone to assess severity of patients' conditions.

O*NET 24.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Social Perceptiveness3.6

Service Orientation3.4

Instructing3.1

Coordination3.1

Complex Problem Solving3.0

Judgment and Decision Making3.0

Time Management3.0

Management of Personnel Resources2.9

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingMathematicsAdministrative

Abilities it leans on

Near VisionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityOral ComprehensionSpeech ClaritySpeech Recognition

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

AngiographerMedical TechnologistRetinal AngiographerSurgical CoordinatorOphthalmic EchographerOphthalmic SonographerOptometric PrescreenerOphthalmic PhotographerOptometric TechnologistOcular Care TechnologistAngiography TechnologistOphthalmic UltrasonographerOphthalmic Diagnostic ImagerCertified Retinal Angiographer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.

Now listed 13

+Hypertext preprocessor PHP+Microsoft Office software+iChartPlus+JavaScript+Computer aided design and drafting CADD software+Microsoft Excel+AcuityPro+Microsoft Outlook+NaviNet Open+Microsoft Word+EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems EyeMD EMR+SAP software+Autodesk AutoCAD

No longer listed 4

−AcuityPro VisionScience Software−EyeMD EMR−NaviNet software−iChart Plus Visual Acuity Digital Eye Chart Testing Software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

AngiographerClinical SupervisorRetinal AngiographerMedical TechnologistSurgical CoordinatorInstruct TechnologistOptometric PrescreenerOphthalmic EchographerOphthalmic SonographerOphthalmic PhotographerOptometric TechnologistAngiography Technologist

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
optometrist	2267.1	close

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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