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Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ocular care technician

The differences between certified ophthalmic assistants and ocular care 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 ocular care technician. Additionally, a certified ophthalmic assistant has an average salary of $42,724, which is higher than the $34,992 average annual salary of an ocular care technician.

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

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ocular care technician overview

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOcular Care Technician
Yearly salary$42,724$34,992
Hourly rate$20.54$16.82
Growth rate16%-
Number of jobs74,71677,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ocular care technician salary

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

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOcular Care Technician
Average salary$42,724$34,992
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $61,000Between $27,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WA-
Highest paying stateWashington-
Best paying companyHorizon Laser Vision-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between certified ophthalmic assistant and ocular care technician education

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

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOcular Care Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBusinessBiology
Most common college--

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ocular care technician demographics

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

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOcular Care Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 10.5% Female, 89.5%Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8%
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 ocular care 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

Ocular care technician example responsibilities.

  • Reduce patient wait time and obtain medical histories, vision acuity and intraocular measurements (tonopen).
  • Perform clinic work-ups/manifest refraction utilizing EMR, program and maintain laser equipment, clinical photography, and assist physicians during surgeries.
  • Greet patients and ensure accurate demographic and insurance information into their electronic chart following HiPPA compliance in a paperless practice.

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ocular care technician skills

Common certified ophthalmic assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Ophthalmology, 6%
  • COA, 5%
  • Triage, 4%
  • Visual Acuity, 4%
Common ocular care technician skills
  • Medical History, 100%

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