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Ophthalmic assistant vs certified ophthalmic technician

The differences between ophthalmic assistants and certified ophthalmic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an ophthalmic assistant and a certified ophthalmic technician. Additionally, a certified ophthalmic technician has an average salary of $43,658, which is higher than the $43,217 average annual salary of an ophthalmic assistant.

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

Ophthalmic assistant vs certified ophthalmic technician overview

Ophthalmic AssistantCertified Ophthalmic Technician
Yearly salary$43,217$43,658
Hourly rate$20.78$20.99
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs21,55949,836
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

Ophthalmic assistant vs certified ophthalmic technician salary

Ophthalmic assistants and certified ophthalmic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Ophthalmic AssistantCertified Ophthalmic Technician
Average salary$43,217$43,658
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $62,000Between $30,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WA-
Highest paying stateHawaii-
Best paying companyEye Consultants of Atlanta-
Best paying industryTransportation-

Differences between ophthalmic assistant and certified ophthalmic technician education

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

Ophthalmic AssistantCertified Ophthalmic Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesBiology
Most common college--

Ophthalmic assistant vs certified ophthalmic technician demographics

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

Ophthalmic AssistantCertified Ophthalmic Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 13.1% Female, 86.9%Male, 15.9% Female, 84.1%
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 ophthalmic assistant and certified ophthalmic technician duties and responsibilities

Ophthalmic assistant example responsibilities.

  • Experience with IOP, using Tonopen, knowledge of eye drops, emails prescription and refills to pharmacy, for patients.
  • Obtain patient history to include chief complaint, past ocular history medication and allergies.
  • Check intraocular pressure by application and tonopen.
  • Perform OCT, HVF, FA/FP tests.
  • Order labs, MRI, ect as necessary.
  • Perform OCT scans, and Fluorescein Angiograms.
  • Show more

Certified ophthalmic technician example responsibilities.

  • Assess patients and document medical history.
  • Have used the goldmann, tonopen and the Perkins hand hold tonometer.
  • Perform examinations and interviews with patients.
  • Obtain intraocular pressure by applanation tonomentry or tonopen.
  • Perform clinic work-ups/manifest refraction utilizing EMR, program and maintain laser equipment, clinical photography, and assist physicians during surgeries.
  • Comply with all HIPAA regulations regarding patient information.
  • Show more

Ophthalmic assistant vs certified ophthalmic technician skills

Common ophthalmic assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Ophthalmology, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Color Vision, 5%
  • Triage, 4%
Common certified ophthalmic technician skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Ophthalmology, 7%
  • Color Vision, 6%
  • Visual Acuity, 5%
  • Visual Fields, 5%
  • Allergies, 5%

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