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Certified ophthalmic assistant vs eye technician

The differences between certified ophthalmic assistants and eye technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a certified ophthalmic assistant and an eye technician. Additionally, a certified ophthalmic assistant has an average salary of $42,724, which is higher than the $30,664 average annual salary of an eye technician.

The top three skills for a certified ophthalmic assistant include patients, patient care and ophthalmology. The most important skills for an eye technician are patients, schedule appointments, and medical history.

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs eye technician overview

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantEye Technician
Yearly salary$42,724$30,664
Hourly rate$20.54$14.74
Growth rate16%2%
Number of jobs74,7166,948
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs eye technician salary

Certified ophthalmic assistants and eye technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantEye Technician
Average salary$42,724$30,664
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $61,000Between $20,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WA-
Highest paying stateWashington-
Best paying companyHorizon Laser Vision-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between certified ophthalmic assistant and eye technician education

There are a few differences between a certified ophthalmic assistant and an eye technician in terms of educational background:

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantEye Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common majorBusinessBiology
Most common college--

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs eye technician demographics

Here are the differences between certified ophthalmic assistants' and eye technicians' demographics:

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantEye Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 10.5% Female, 89.5%Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between certified ophthalmic assistant and eye technician duties and responsibilities

Certified ophthalmic assistant example responsibilities.

  • Perform documentation and manage troubleshooting activities with the Compulink EHR software.
  • Check angles, Intraocular pressure by application and tonopen.
  • Screen patients in a general ophthalmology and optometry practice.
  • Perform contrast sensitivity, corneal topography, pachymetry, and Fundus photography.
  • Specialize in patient education to inform patients of their diagnosis, conditions and procedures and/or surgical interventions need.
  • Check IOP using an applanator or tonopen.
    • Show more

Eye technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
  • Collect co pay, enter in EHR, balance and close out dates.
  • Reconcile cash drawer and daily close reports to EHR at the end of the day.
  • Obtain patient's chief complaint as well as present and past illness, medications, and allergies.
  • Experience in assisting retina procedures, ordering supplies and medications.
  • Coordinate departmental activities while maintaining excellent relationships with all other departments, vendors, patients and professionals.
    • Show more

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs eye technician skills

Common certified ophthalmic assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Ophthalmology, 6%
  • COA, 5%
  • Triage, 4%
  • Visual Acuity, 4%
Common eye technician skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Schedule Appointments, 5%
  • Medical History, 5%
  • Eye Exams, 4%
  • FDA, 4%
  • Exam Rooms, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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