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Ophthalmic medical assistant vs optometric assistant

The differences between ophthalmic medical assistants and optometric assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an ophthalmic medical assistant and an optometric assistant. Additionally, an optometric assistant has an average salary of $98,734, 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 optometric assistant are patients, appointment scheduling, and customer service.

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs optometric assistant overview

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOptometric Assistant
Yearly salary$33,014$98,734
Hourly rate$15.87$47.47
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs80,670142,550
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs optometric assistant salary

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

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOptometric Assistant
Average salary$33,014$98,734
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $41,000Between $66,000 And $147,000
Highest paying City-Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-QPS
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between ophthalmic medical assistant and optometric assistant education

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

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOptometric Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesBusiness
Most common college--

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs optometric assistant demographics

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

Ophthalmic Medical AssistantOptometric Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 11.7% Female, 88.3%Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4%
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, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% Asian, 9.8% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between ophthalmic medical assistant and optometric 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.
  • Show more

Optometric assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage telecommunications, provide patient telephone triage and documentation thereof.
  • Utilize organization skills in managing business operation keeping Dr. Rivera on schedule.
  • Maintain medical records in accordance with HIPAA.
  • Administer vaccines, EKG and Spirometry testing.
  • Test patients for glaucoma and cataracts on NCT machine.
  • Assist physicians with injections, EKG testing, treadmill tests.
  • Show more

Ophthalmic medical assistant vs optometric 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 optometric assistant skills
  • Patients, 36%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Visual Acuity, 3%
  • Blood Pressure, 3%

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