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Ophthalmic medical assistant vs ophthalmic assistant

The differences between ophthalmic medical assistants and ophthalmic assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an ophthalmic medical assistant, becoming an ophthalmic assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an ophthalmic assistant has an average salary of $43,217, which is higher than the $33,014 average annual salary of an ophthalmic medical assistant.

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

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs ophthalmic assistant overview

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOphthalmic Assistant
Yearly salary$33,014$43,217
Hourly rate$15.87$20.78
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs80,67021,559
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age3741
Years of experience122

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs ophthalmic assistant salary

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

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOphthalmic Assistant
Average salary$33,014$43,217
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $41,000Between $30,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City-Vancouver, WA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Eye Consultants of Atlanta
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between ophthalmic medical assistant and ophthalmic assistant education

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

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOphthalmic Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs ophthalmic assistant demographics

Here are the differences between ophthalmic medical assistants' and ophthalmic assistants' demographics:

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOphthalmic Assistant
Average age3741
Gender ratioMale, 11.7% Female, 88.3%Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 9.4% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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 medical assistant and ophthalmic assistant duties and responsibilities

Ophthalmic medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Enter patient information in EHR computer system.
  • Learned Medflow EHR, backfill medical records and updated/creat new patient medical records.
  • Schedule patients for routine appointments and surgical procedures, and provide both preoperative and postoperative instruction.
  • Display medical terminology and detail orient with ability to record and report properly in patients records.
  • Perform clinic work-ups/manifest refraction utilizing EMR, program and maintain laser equipment, clinical photography, and assist physicians during surgeries.
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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

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs ophthalmic assistant skills

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

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