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Optometric Technician Resume Samples
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0-5 years of experience
Lead reception office: maintained paperwork, scheduling, office work-flow, product ordering and patient or company transactions
- Promoted to a Para-Optometric Technician after completing targeted training to learn the software and machinery involved in patient pre-testing for examinations
- Specialized in patient interaction and care, and provided instruction for examinations
- Trained colleagues in new employment positions and assigned and monitored tasks
- Organized in-office contact lens tasks for higher efficiency and managed relations with contact lens vendors
0-5 years of experience
Provided thorough customer service to patients as they select eye glasses to fit their needs as well as during check in, check out and scheduling
- Managed the front desk and support office administratively to include filing, typing letters and correspondence for the doctor, dictating letters, and processing co-payments via check, cash, and credit
- Tested patient’s vision during preliminary screenings and distributed contacts
- Opened the office, ensured general maintenance, and set up and cleaned prior to all appointments
- Assisted patients with appointment, billing, and insurance questions
- Created a professional setting where patients felt comfortable
0-5 years of experience
Established high standards for customer service in a professional Optometry setting.
- Basic computer and organizational skills were used to maintain and organize accurate records, to research and evaluate patient insurance, to interpret and analyze explanation of benefits, and to design new forms and processing steps.
- Trained and assisted new employees on office policies and procedures as well as how to proficiently operate office machines including an auto refractor, a computerized lensmeter, a computerized tonometer, and the Visucam Pro NM.
- Maintained inventory of contact lens supply and restocked optometrist supplies.
- Sterilized equipment and pre-tested patients before eye examination.
0-5 years of experience
Acted as primary liaison between patients and doctors
- Kept the doctors on schedule through time management and prioritizing appointments to maintain efficient work flow for both doctors and the technician
- Performed tests and recorded data accurately and efficiently prior to patients’ appointments
- Ensured patients’ insurance coverage through use of online resources and provider service phone lines while working in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Fielded patient phone calls including ordering contact lenses, making appointments for eye exams, answering general questions, and communication with other optical locations
- Trained several new employees in both receptionist and optometric technician position
- Created invoices and billed patients for eye exams, office visits, and contact lens purchases
- Participated in the transition to electronic medical records including the use of new POS software and the scanning and organization of hard copies of patient records
- Maintained an organized work area and preformed daily cleaning tasks in technician area and doctors rooms
0-5 years of experience
Scheduling, appointment verification, insurance claims, optometry pretesting, retail sales, answer telephone inquiries on available products including sales and insurance.
- Instructed patients on the proper care of eyeglasses and contact lenses.
- Heated, shaped and bent plastic and metal frames to adjust eyeglasses for clients.
- Confirms that frames were correctly built with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
- Maintained organized records of customer prescriptions, work orders and payments.
- Obtained detailed medical and personal data for patient charts and records.
- Tested for intraocular pressure, visual acuity.
- Operated ophthalmic instruments.
- Customer services as well as clerical work, filing of patient information, important paperwork and handling technical issues.
0-5 years of experience
Operated and maintained optometric equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, or ophthalmoscopes.
- Contacted potential customers to present information and explain available services.
- Mounted, secured, and aligned finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies.
- Obtained and documented patients’ medical histories.
- Assisted patients to select eyewear.
0-5 years of experience
Answered multi-line telephone system
- Checked patients in/out and scheduled appointments
- Performed vision tests: Vision Acuity, IOP, Color and Depth perception
- Administered topical ophthalmic or oral medications
- Assessed refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes
- Assisted patients to insert or remove contact lenses
0-5 years of experience
Conducted preliminary optometric tests including AutoRefraction, NCT, Digital Retinal Photography, Lensometer Readings, Visual Field, and Dialation
- Processed insurance and medical claims including resolving outstanding claims balances and handled any patient discrepancies on strict deadlines
- Provided daily front office reception duties including patient intake, scheduling appointments, answering multi-line phone
- Managed Account Receivables
- Created insurance balance reports to management and owner
- Managed office and patient supply inventory
- Handled confidential patient information and medical history
0-5 years of experience
Computer skills to include word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, time management, database and forms creation application.
- Provided training to lower level employees on the performance of their work
- Assisted patients with insertion/removal of contact lenses and assisted with the purchase of spectacles
- Assisted the optometrist with visual acuities
- Electronically filed and coded insurance claims
0-5 years of experience
Welcomed patients to the optical and signed them in for their appointments.
- Explained patients the welcome paperwork and managed it on the computer quickly.
- Verified appropriate insurance and obtained necessary authorizations.
- Answered patient telephone calls promptly and scheduled appointments.
- Operated specific equipment for the preparation of the patient.
- Tested the patients’ vision with appropriate appliances.
- Bilingual translation from Spanish to English for the patient/optometrist.
10+ years of experience
- Filed patient information and files
- Arranged appointments according to availability of the doctor requested
- Coordinated activities to ensure proper paperwork was dispersed
- Synchronized activities to coordinate patients leaving the pre-screening room to doctor’s office
- Directed and assisted in setting up patients in doctor’s office
- Monitored phone lines and after hours services
0-5 years of experience
- Acquired required knowledge and ensured compliance with policies and procedures affecting employees
- Maintained accurate and organized patient records
- Responded to inquiries referring to exams, insurance coverage, and other medical related questions
- Responsible for performing pre-testing and instructing patients in contact lens wear
0-5 years of experience
Perform routine clerical, administrative duties or other work related to both OD’s office and retail floor. Greet patients and set up paperwork, check and manage insurances.
- Managed front desk, answered phones, and set up appointments
- Optometric technician for OD’s office, pre-screening patients and dispensing contact lenses
- Filing, pricing and labeling frames, frame stylist, ordering frames through lab frame purchasing
0-5 years of experience
Assist the optometrist in reading patients glasses as well as operated an auto refractor to acquire measurements.
- Operate an NCT to obtain intraocular pressure as well as use an optomap to take retinal images.
- Administer visual fields testing per Optometrists orders.
- Handle all phone calls to patients for finished glasses and contact lens orders.
- Schedule appointments managing a multi-line phone system timely and efficiently.
- Perform general office duties such as filing medical records, faxing orders, copying, and general clerical duties.
0-5 years of experience
Assisted 4 optometrists in everyday office functions
- Main role was to screen patients and scribe for the doctors
- Performed basic contact lens checks, verified RGP lenses, ordered contacts, and verified specs Rx
- Scheduled appointments and triaged phone calls from patients
- Efficient with HVF, OCT, Pentacam and topography machines, among others
6-10 years of experience
Responsible for opening and closing the office. Making sure doctor’s exam rooms are clean and sterilized for the day.
- Checking patients in and out. Verifying insurance coverage. Collecting copayments.
- Schedule and confirm appointments.
- Perform preliminary testing’s for doctors such as Visual fields, fundus photography (Optomap), topography, NCT, auto-refractor, color vision and depth perception, Goldman tonometry, and OCT
- Direct the flow of patients with multiple doctors on site. Provide excellent assistant to patients and co-workers whether in person or on the phone.
- Responsible for entering patient information into EMR, prepping charts and scanning patients charts.
- Provide patients with contact lens training. Order & receive contact lens orders.
0-5 years of experience
Record patient medical history, Perform pre-testing to help ensure an accurate diagnosis and treatment of a diseased eye.
- Ordering contact lenses for patients, Ordering and maintaining trial contact lens inventory.
- Patient recalls, data entry, printing charts, filing, and general billing tasks.
- Optician and dispensing duties, excellent customer skills.
- Check in patients, obtaining information and verifying insurance.
- Answering telephones, routing calls, taking messages, greeting visitors and patients.
- Handling correspondence, scheduling appointments light bookkeeping and billing tasks.
0-5 years of experience
Performing medical testing and compiling data for case debriefing on glaucoma patients.
- Analyzing quantitative data and formulating equations using excel spreadsheets. Reporting on trends in financial performance for the fiscal year.
- Acting as the liaison between offices, retrieving necessary information for patient evaluation and case management, and ensuring proper documentation and necessary follow-ups.
- Providing ad hoc administrative and customer service including patient registration, check-in, check-out, phone services, and patient orders.
- Findings resulted in establishing consistent tools for tracking and database management.
0-5 years of experience
Was responsible for the pre-examination of patients utilizing ophthalmic devices such as the Auto refractor and Tonometer machines.
- Prepared patients before an examination by gathering medical history information, explaining the exam process and administering tests to determine the visual capabilities
- Prepared work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
- Medical Insurance Billing
- Operated Multi-line console
- Educated patients how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses.
0-5 years of experience
Utilize good customer service skills in interaction with students, families and other internal and external contacts
- Administer screening assessment to students
- Assist consulting OD or MD in the implementation of vision assessment
- Assist in the distribution of eyeglasses in collaboration with the consulting optician, OD or MD
- Conduct educational information sessions to children, school personnel and or parents regarding screening assessment, vision health, vision treatments.
- Assist in the provision of case management services to parent of children referred for follow -up care.
- Prepare program documentation including data collections tools, notification letters, surveys, inventory and other assigned documents.
- Assist in the movement and setup of inventory supplies and project equipment, weighing up to 50lbs, as necessary.
0-5 years of experience
Assist the optometrist in the examination and treatment of patients
- Perform visual tests and procedures
- Record patient medical history and perform data entry into electronic medical records
- Arranged and confirmed patient appointments
- Educated patients on proper use and care of glasses and contact lenses
0-5 years of experience
Perform administrative and clerical duties such as schedule appointments and prepare patients for eye exams and vision therapy
- Create, file and maintain new and current patients medical records as requested. Also assisted patients with frame and lens options.
- Responsible for cleaning and maintaining all equipment, instruments in the optometric area
- Responsible for training and supervising new employees as requested
- Create and submit billing to medical insurance companies on a daily basis
- Responsible for procurement of office supplies
- Assist 20 to 30 clients daily with various office and store inquiries
- Works independently to insure office is kept in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations and to ensure all clients are satisfied
0-5 years of experience
All front desk duties including in/out patient, answering multiple phones lines, and filing / preparing patients medical records.
- Prepare patients for doctors by pre-screening patients using several instruments including exam-writer, train patients to wear contact lenses and maintain proper care.
- Schedule and confirm appointments in a professional office setting.
- Responsible for financial transactions including accounts receivable with balancing
- Fax medical related forms and referrals, verifying insurance benefits.
- Processed claims for all major insurance policies.
6-10 years of experience
Order medical, and office supplies and contact vendors for sample medication
- Great patients, answer phones, schedule appointments, and prepare the patient chart
- Bill insurance claims and collected all payments
- Fit, sell and dispense patients eyeglasses
- Trained patients on insertion, removal, and care of contacted lens
- Administered topical and diagnostic medication necessary for treatment and testing
0-5 years of experience
Perform preliminary testing data collection as directed, including auto-refraction, tonometry readings, retinal imaging, color blindness testing and performing visual acuity testing.
- Instruct patients on the insertion, removal, cleaning, care and proper handling of their contact lenses
- Schedule appointments according to the Resource Scheduling guidelines
- Answer patients’ questions, check patients in and out, collect payments, monitor and perform other front desk tasks as needed
- Maintain complete and accurate patient records
- Confirm the schedule: call appointments the day before to confirm the appointment time.
- Call for insurance pre-authorization; notify patients when their contact lenses are available for dispensing, etc.
- Clean and maintain equipment and instruments in the optometric area as well as supply inventories
0-5 years of experience
Perform eye exams on patients in a clinical environment.
- Experience working in a high volume practice while still giving patients one on one attention.
- Responsible for training new technicians.
- Quickly and efficiently works-up multiple charts at one time to meet the needs of all patients in a timely manner.
- Responsible for scheduling patient referrals with other doctor’s offices.
- Responsible for ordering and stocking contact lenses.
- Experience using industry specific equipment such as non-contact tonometry, corneal pachymetry, frequency doubling
6-10 years of experience
Greeted patients, make appointments, and answer phones
- Prepared patient for vision exam
- Assisted patients in frame selection and purchasing glasses
- Verified patients insurance, obtain authorization, and collect copayments
- Monitor and order inventory for trial lenses and supplies on a weekly basis
- Trained patients to safely insert and remove contact lens
6-10 years of experience
Assist in a wide range of optical procedures and perform -visual acuities, auto-refractions, ishira color vision, depth perception randot stereo test, retinal photography(visicam), setting phoropter, tonometry (tonopen), instill eye drops (dilation), and Humphrey visual field screenings (40-40, 24-2, 10-2)
- Evaluate patient history and keep records of patients’ vision, health, medications, benefit administration and other numerous ocular complaints
- Educate patients on proper eye care as well as contact lens classes
- Compulink Advatage/ appointment scheduling
- VSP, BCBS, Eyemed, Spectera & NVA billing
- Optical Inventory
- Fit & Adjust, Dispense eyeglasses & contact lenses
- Verify RX with manual lensometer
0-5 years of experience
- Increase revenue by 15% patient compliance with OPTOS (retinal imaging) from 75 to 90%.
- Maximizing doctor’s productivity by maintaining a full schedule.
- Training new employee on doctor’s regulations and procedures of front office responsibilities.
- Managing the operations of optical lab and dispensing of glasses.
- Managing daily insurance submission for reimbursement.
- Responsible for notifying patients concerning their insurance coverage eligibility.
0-5 years of experience
Run preliminary scans on patients, review medical history and any complaints patient has.
- Use the auto refractor, NCT, and visual field screener, OCT, and the Humphrey Visual field dialog on a daily basis.
- Prep charts for patients
- Help front desk schedule appointments and answering phone calls
- Order contact lenses for patients and trials for the office
- Maintain inventory of exam room materials and supplies
6-10 years of experience
Performed a combination of tasks to assist the optometrist in eye examinations and corrective procedures.
- Gave a summary report to the optometrist about the general health condition of patients before check up
- Updated patient records and created summary reports for the optometrist every month
- Maintained records, schedules, and announcements
- Performed bookkeeping and filing as well as other office work
- Assist patients in frame selections
- Assist patients in contact lens fits
- Adjust and repair glasses and modify contact lenses
- Maintain an inventory of materials and clean instruments
0-5 years of experience
Pre-testing patients prior to the eye exam utilizing several optometric machines such as the color and depth perception tester, tonometer, auto-refractor, and visual fields machines.
- Taking retinal images to help determine the health of a patient’s eyes and performing OCT scans on patients with various eye conditions.
- Instructing patients on proper insertion, removal, and care of contact lenses.
- Collecting patient insurance information and calculating benefits for the checkout process.
- Selling and ordering contact lenses for both patient orders and office stock.
6-10 years of experience
- Utilize the EMR system to record medical histories and prepare patients for their medical exam
- Trained to use Topcon’s KR8000 Auto Refractor to obtain the base reading for optical prescriptions in conjunction with the CV3000 for refraction testing and the CL100 Lensmeter the obtain the prescription of existing eyewear
- Check the intraocular pressure of the eye with the CT80 Computerized Tonometer as a step to diagnose potential eye disease such as Glaucoma
- Use the GDx-Vcc diagnostic instrument to examine the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer as a step for the early detection of Glaucoma
- Conduct Visual Field Tests using the Humphrey Field Analyzer to test patients peripheral vision
- Teach patients the proper procedure for inserting and removing contact lenses
- Regularly assist the clerical team with front desk tasks including patient admission, record filing, answering phones, the forwarding of medical records, appointment setting, and appointment verifications.
0-5 years of experience
Perform prescreening clinical assessment and internal patient records management
- Responsible for insurance filing online and HCFA 1500 forms, authorization and collection
- Train patients on eye-care utilization and maintenance
- Train all incoming technicians on filing insurance claims and care of contact lenses
0-5 years of experience
Scheduling appointments, calling to remind patients of their appointments for the next day and answering phones with multiple lines.
- Working up patients for their basic eye examination, which includes updating medical history, color vision, depth perception, and visual acuity.
- Instruct patients to use contact lenses, explain to the patient the proper use and care of eyeglasses and contact lenses.
- Clean ocular equipment
- Sale Glasses
0-5 years of experience
Pretest patients for visual acuity, color vision, depth perception, visual field testing, and pressure inside the eye
- Prepare patient medical charts
- Assist with frame and lens selection
- Educate patients on proper contact lens management and application
- Verify insurances
- Tend to patient request for referrals, scheduling appointments, and prior authorizations
- Check in and dispense Medicaid glasses
0-5 years of experience
Assists patients with check in process and gathering of pertinent patient demographic information
- Use of patient management software (Revolution EHR, TAB)
- Schedule and confirm patient appointments as well as obtain/submit insurance authorizations
- Perform patient’s pre-exam and all diagnostic testing
- Proficient in use of autorefractor, Lensometer, Optos, Humphrey’s Visual Field screening, iVue OCT, NCT, and administering eye medications
- Conduct new contact lens wearer trainings and instruct all contact lens wearers on proper maintenance
- Managing correspondence with other doctors offices
- Maintain clean, sterile, and organized office
0-5 years of experience
Help set up patients appointments, answer any billing questions for patients, Look up and file most insurances.
- Maintain a clean and organized desk.
- Assist patients with eye exams, as well as contact lens exams.
- Train patients on how to put contact lenses in and out and the proper technique for caring of their lenses.
- Set up exam rooms for with doctors.
- Prescreening and visual fields.
0-5 years of experience
Obtain information about patients medical history, drug history, complaints and allergies.
- Responsible for maintaining timely and courteous patient flow for two optometrists.
- Take patient vitals and monitored blood pressure, and pulse rate.
- Conduct pretesting procedures for patients including color vision, stereo, NCT, Keratometry, Auto refractor, Matrix Visual Field, and Fundus Photography using Optomap.
- Lensometry on patient previous and currents glasses and hard contacts.
- Performing additional screening for glaucoma/glaucoma suspect patients using GDX and Humphrey Visual Field.
- Answering phones calls and scheduling appointments
- Providing patients with after care instructions and giving them prescriptions from the optometrist.
- Training patients on contact lenses insertion and care.
6-10 years of experience
Perform diagnostic testing – average twelve (12) per day
- Record findings with diligence for HIPPA
- Schedule appointments – Manage patient database and confidential files
- Verify insurance – File and process claims
- Process/Order contact lenses for revenue – Manage contact lens inventory
- Maintain spreadsheet for contact lens sales
- Responsible for Warranty Claims and Returns of specialty contact lenses
- Accounts Payable – research and match invoices (8 contact lens vendors) Resolve discrepancies in preparation of payment
- Instrumental in supporting and nurturing the growth of the practice by increasing patients’ appointments by 10% to 15% per year
6-10 years of experience
- Communicate with patients on a daily basis to make appointments, collect payments and customer service
- Responsible for calling insurance companies to verify benefits
- Perform pretests on patients with various equipment and keeping record of patient history and complaints
- Maintain a safe and clean work environment through clerical tasks including ordering supplies and filing charts
- Office duties such as ordering supplies, faxing, printing, data entry, customer service and communicating with tech support for various machine issues
0-5 years of experience
Filing charts and keeping medical records up to date
- Answering incoming calls, scheduling appointments and transferring them to appropriate personnel
- Validating Patients Medical Insurance
- Work along side the Doctor, performing various tests
- Responsibilities to Patients include but not limited to contact lens training, pretesting, and general Patient education
- Front desk/receptionist
- Providing assistance to patients wanting to purchase eyeglasses and contacts
10+ years of experience
Take and document patients’ medical histories
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Measure Intra-Ocular Pressures using a non-contact tomometer.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
- Measure corneal curvature with manual and automatic keratometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions such as astigmatism.
- Instruct patients in the care and handling of contacts lenses, to include insertion and removal of soft and gas
0-5 years of experience
Interview patients to obtain information about symptoms and medical histories.
- Conducting visual acuity measurements.
- Preliminary testing: Auto Refractor, Intraocular pressure, color vision testing, and visual field.
- Contact lenses: fitting new patients, patient education including incursion and removal and care of contacts.
- Scheduling referrals to specialists for patients.
- Assisting the doctors in exams and procedures.
0-5 years of experience
- Booking Patient appointments for eye exams and eye related emergencies
- Co-managed patient care through pretesting, drop insertion, contact lens rotation, and visual accuities
- Facilitate special testing on patients, including: Topcon KR 8000 Auto Refractometer, Ivue OCT, Oculus Kerotograph, Optomap Ultra Widefield Imaging, , Oculus Visual Fields and Retinal Cameras
- Styling customers with European eyewear to suit their personal and professional needs
- Recommend the best lens solutions for customers prescribed spectacle and contact lenses
- Execute online ordering for eyewear and contact lenses through the Vision Service Plan webpage
- Maintain high quality customer service to ensure customer return and referrals
0-5 years of experience
Assist Optometrist with eye exams.
- Prepare patients and explain procedures of vision tests.
- Obtain detailed medical and personal data for patients charts and records.
- Instructed patients on proper use of eyeglasses and contact lenses.
- Routinely follow up with patients about their post-operative recovery
- Maintain inventory and clean instruments.
- Schedule appointments.
0-5 years of experience
- Greeting and customer service
- Administer 6 pre-test eye exams to patients for the Optometrist
- Direct assistant to the Doctor and support staff when needed
- Promote and sell Visual Field exams
- Create profits of 85-90% from the sale of FTD screenings and eyeglass/contact lens accessories.
- Dispense glasses, contact lens, handle adjustments and eyeglass repairs
- Responsible for maintaining accurate files of sales, answering phones, scheduling appointments and cleanilness of the offices and store.
0-5 years of experience
Take patient history and perform preliminary examination of patient.
- Assist Optometrist with examinations and maintain patient charts.
- Fit and dispense glasses and contact lenses for patients.
- Order prescription eyewear for patients.
- Help patients understand proper care and use of medications, glasses, and contact lenses.
- Order and stock all pharmaceutical drug samples.
0-5 years of experience
Prepped patients for the doctor before every eye exam
- Managed contact prescriptions
- Assited in upholding a clean and safe workplace
- Demonstrated knowledge of some eye health techniques
- Taught patients how to properly insert and remove contact lenses
0-5 years of experience
- Performing routine vision screenings & specialized testing
- Teaching contact lens insertion, removal, & care
- Verifying & billing insurance, collecting co-pays & debts
- Answering multiple phone lines, scheduling daily appointments
- Balancing the books at the end of each business day
- Promoting the sales of both glasses and contact lenses
Optometric Technician Duties and Responsibilities
Whether you work at a doctor’s office or a vision center in a retail outlet, being an optometric technician usually involves some central tasks. Job postings frequently call for applicants who are able to do the following:
Perform Tests Eye exams usually involve some basic pretests that do not need to be performed by the optometrist. For instance, optometric technicians may screen for color blindness, test peripheral vision, and record intraocular pressure.
Prepare Rooms Prior to the doctor calling in his or her next patient, the optometric technician gets the examination area ready. Actions may include repositioning and calibrating machines, disinfecting equipment, and putting charts or results of eye tests on the desk.
Administrative Tasks Operations necessary to office flow may be assigned to optometric technicians. Responsibilities may include greeting visitors, answering phones, scheduling appointments, sorting mail, filing, inputting data into computer files, collecting payment, coding insurance claims, monitoring inventory, and maintaining the neatness of the waiting room.
Instruct When someone gets contact lenses for the first time, the optometric technician may teach the patient how to put them in and take them out, as well as how to clean and store the lenses. Similarly, optometric technicians may teach new bifocal wearers how to adjust to this new type of vision.
Serve Patients Optometric technicians want patients to feel comfortable and have a positive impression of the facility. To this end, they do whatever they can to increase satisfaction. They may offer basic information, adjust eyeglasses through bending or heating, hand out vision care kits, look into insurance coverage, and follow up to see how new prescriptions are working out. One of the most critical tasks optometric technicians fulfill is assisting with eyewear selection. Besides going over the pros and cons and pricing of various frames, they need to strike a balance between helpfulness and letting people experiment.
Optometric Technician Skills and Qualifications
People depend on their eyes, so optometric technicians must be committed to doing their job well. Precision ensures accurate information that the doctor can use to make decisions regarding patient care. Other essential skills for getting the job done include:
- Interpersonal skills – the ability to get along with anyone who seeks services and effectively communicate procedures and information to them will make an optometric technician an office asset
- Familiarity with optometric tests – knowing how to perform tests and operate pertinent machines is vital
- Physical stamina – manual dexterity is needed when using certain equipment; optometric technicians should also be comfortable being in close proximity to people while administering tests
- Collaboration – optometric technicians are part of a team and must work seamlessly with the doctor, front desk staff, and others in the office
- Following directions – exams involve certain steps and procedures, and optometric technicians should be capable of carrying out instructions thoroughly and consistently
- Professionalism – dressing appropriately, using good manners, and focusing on tasks at hand reflect well on the optometric technician and their employer
Optometric Technician Education and Training
While some places will hire people with a high school diploma and train them, completing a postsecondary optometric technician training program through a vocational institution is a more common route to employment. Students learn about anatomy, health, vision, and optical procedures, and how to use equipment.
Optometric Technician Salary and Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes optometric technicians under the category of “opticians, dispensing.” It lists the national median annual salary for this group as $35,530, with a median hourly wage of $17.08. Workers in the lowest 10th percentile earn around $22,670 a year, while the highest paid make more than $57,100 a year. According to the BLS, this field is projected to grow 24 percent over the course of a decade. Much of the demand will come from aging baby boomers seeking eye care services.
Helpful Resources
As you further consider a career as an optometric technician, these sources may be able to answer your questions:
American Optometric Association – this well-known group is a go-to source for information on eye care and the professionals who provide it
10 Steps to a Phenomenal Patient Experience: Customer Service Secrets for the Eye Care Team – get a better grasp on how optometric technicians interact with patients through this insightful book Eye Exam – gain a greater understanding of all the things that go on when people get their eyes checked with this guide from the Mayo Clinic “
The Different Types of Eye Care Professionals” – you’ll be able to tell the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist after checking out this webpage