What is the Job Description for an Ophthalmology Technician?
Ophthalmology technicians work in laboratory environments creating appliances used to improve vision. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for ophthalmology technicians will increase by seven percent through 2016, resulting in the creation of 1,900 new jobs.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
Ophthalmology technicians make eye glasses and contact lenses using orders from optometrists or ophthalmologists. Some also make lenses for cameras and microscopes.
Features
-
Ophthalmology technicians utilize grinders, polishers and other tools to shape the glass used to make lenses. They also bend metal and adjust metal frames to fit the measurements of a patient's face. Once the glasses are assembled, the ophthalmology technician ensures the prescription is correct prior to sending them to the doctor who requested them.
-
Types
-
In small laboratories, ophthalmology technicians produce a pair of glasses from start to finish. In larger laboratories, each technician performs one specific step in the process, such as applying tinting or scratch resistant coating to lenses.
Education
-
Most ophthalmology technicians hold only high school diplomas or GEDs and learn how to complete their work on-the-job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are, however, a few technical schools that offer training for ophthalmology technicians, which typically last six months to one year.
Compensation
-
In May 2008, the average annual salary for ophthalmology technicians was $29,130, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
-
