How to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Official title: Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Also called: Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech), Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA), Health Technician (Health Tech), Ophthalmic Assistant, Ophthalmic Diagnostic Sonographer, Ophthalmic Medical Assistant, Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Ophthalmic Medical Tech), Ophthalmic Tech (Ophthalmic Technician)

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.

Main tasks

• Take and document patients' medical histories.
• Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
• Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
• Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
• Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
• Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
• Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
• Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Ophthalmic Medical Technician.
• Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Optometric Technician/Assistant; Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist; Orthoptics/Orthoptist

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $45,570 a year The middle half earn $38,170 to $51,390.
• About 72,500 people work in this job now, and about 88,000 are projected by 2035. (+21.4%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Ophthalmic Medical Technician.

How much does an Ophthalmic Medical Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $45,570 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,170 to $51,390.

Is an Ophthalmic Medical Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 72,500 to about 88,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Ophthalmic Medical Technician.

Will AI change the work of an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.