Ophthalmologist Technician Training
Ophthalmologist technicians help ophthalmologists identify, diagnose and treat eye conditions and diseases, according to Education-Portal.com. These technicians create and fill prescriptions for patients who have visual impairments, according to DiplomaGuide.com. Ophthalmologist technicians also inspect prescriptions for patients' glasses. They typically must complete at least one to two years of training to enter this field.
Other People Are Reading
-
Details
-
Ophthalmologist technicians must know how to perform diagnostic procedures to test and measure vision function and acuity in patients. In addition, these trained professionals test patients' perception of color, apply drops and medications to patients' eyes and inspect patients' corneas--the transparent front part of the eye. Ophthalmologist technicians might help with eye surgery and retrieve laboratory work, as well. Ophthalmologist technician training programs teach students how to perform these varied yet critical duties in hospitals, vision care clinics and ophthalmologist offices.
Certificate/Degree
-
Individuals who are interested in becoming ophthalmologist technicians should complete post-secondary training at a vocational school or community college. These professionals usually need a one-year certificate or a two-year associate degree. Training programs feature basic science and math instruction along with the technical skills ophthalmologist technicians need to care for patients. In these programs, students must complete both clinical training and a final examination. To get into ophthalmologist training programs, students usually need a high school diploma or GED.
-
Classes
-
Courses in an ophthalmologist technician training program cover topics such as ocular pharmacology, eye muscle evaluation, math, anatomy and physiology. Students additionally learn physics, clinical optics, visual field testing and even lensometry. In addition, students study patient services, refractometry, surgical assisting and light-based imagery. These classes teach students how to instruct patients on the correct usage of contact lenses, how to take patient histories, how to take eye measurements and how to explain medical procedures to patients.
Certification
-
Completion of an ophthalmologist technician training program prepares students to complete and pass a certification examination available through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. The exam covers topics such as evaluation of pupils, ocular emergencies, medications, ocular dressings and systemic illness. Students who become certified as ophthalmologist technicians must complete continuing education credits to maintain their certification. Although voluntary, certification makes an ophthalmologist technician more employable.
Outlook
-
The demand for ophthalmologist technicians remains strong as a growing aging population in the United States requires more eye services. In addition, the ophthalmologist field has experienced advances in optical procedures and surgery for correcting visual disorders. The average salary for ophthalmic technicians in 2010 was $44,000, according to Indeed.com.
-
References
- Photo Credit macro human eye image by Anatoly Tiplyashin from Fotolia.com
