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.
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.
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.
Perform ophthalmic triage, in the office or by phone, to assess severity of patients' conditions.
Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications.
Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods.
Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff.
Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma.
Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye.
Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects.
Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
Conduct tests, such as the Amsler Grid test, to measure central visual field used in the early diagnosis of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diseases of the eye.
Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.
Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
Conduct low vision blindness tests.
Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures.
Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.
Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT).
Contact With Others — 75% responded "Constant contact with others".
Work With Work Group or Team — 70% responded "Extremely important".
Electronic Mail — 65% responded "Every day".
Physical Proximity — 55% responded "Very close (near touching)".
Telephone — 70% responded "Every day".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 50% responded "Extremely important".
Frequency of Decision Making — 65% responded "Every day".
Exposed to Disease or Infections — 45% responded "Every day".
Deal With External Customers — 60% responded "Extremely important".
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 35% responded "Important results".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 35% responded "A lot of freedom".
Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 45% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 35% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Coordinate or Lead Others — 45% responded "Important".
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 35% responded "Some freedom".
Letters and Memos — 30% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".
Time Pressure — 40% responded "Every day".
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 30% responded "Limited responsibility".
Consequence of Error — 35% responded "Fairly serious".
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 35% responded "Very important".
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 35% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".
Frequency of Conflict Situations — 40% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".
Spend Time Standing — 65% responded "About half the time".
Spend Time Sitting — 45% responded "About half the time".
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Clerical
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Flexibility of Closure
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Perceptual Speed
The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
