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Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ophthalmology surgical technician

The differences between certified ophthalmic assistants and ophthalmology surgical 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 ophthalmology surgical technician. Additionally, an ophthalmology surgical technician has an average salary of $43,454, which is higher than the $42,724 average annual salary of a certified ophthalmic assistant.

The top three skills for a certified ophthalmic assistant include patients, patient care and ophthalmology. The most important skills for an ophthalmology surgical technician are patients, field testing, and visual fields.

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ophthalmology surgical technician overview

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Yearly salary$42,724$43,454
Hourly rate$20.54$20.89
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs74,71633,527
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ophthalmology surgical technician salary

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

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Average salary$42,724$43,454
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $61,000Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WA-
Highest paying stateWashington-
Best paying companyHorizon Laser Vision-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between certified ophthalmic assistant and ophthalmology surgical technician education

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

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorBusinessMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ophthalmology surgical technician demographics

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

Certified Ophthalmic AssistantOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 10.5% Female, 89.5%Male, 20.2% Female, 79.8%
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 ophthalmology surgical 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

Ophthalmology surgical technician example responsibilities.

  • Work daily with EHR, manual keratomerty, topography, pachymetry, visual field testing, macular OCT, and CCT.
  • Perform optical examinations obtaining patients chief complaints, demographic information and medical history.
  • Document medications, record allergies.
  • Discuss IOL options with patient.
  • Provide review/grammar correction of medical chart dictations for the doctor in the ophthalmology department.
  • Assist ophthalmologists in ophthalmic surgery, observe patients under anesthesia by using various health monitoring equipment.
  • Show more

Certified ophthalmic assistant vs ophthalmology surgical technician skills

Common certified ophthalmic assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Ophthalmology, 6%
  • COA, 5%
  • Triage, 4%
  • Visual Acuity, 4%
Common ophthalmology surgical technician skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • Field Testing, 7%
  • Visual Fields, 5%
  • Surgical Procedures, 5%
  • Visual Acuity, 4%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 4%

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