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Optometric technician vs ophthalmology surgical technician

The differences between optometric technicians 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 an optometric technician and an ophthalmology surgical technician. Additionally, an ophthalmology surgical technician has an average salary of $43,454, which is higher than the $30,928 average annual salary of an optometric technician.

The top three skills for an optometric technician include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for an ophthalmology surgical technician are patients, field testing, and visual fields.

Optometric technician vs ophthalmology surgical technician overview

Optometric TechnicianOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Yearly salary$30,928$43,454
Hourly rate$14.87$20.89
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs33,41233,527
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

Optometric technician vs ophthalmology surgical technician salary

Optometric technicians and ophthalmology surgical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Optometric TechnicianOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Average salary$30,928$43,454
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $39,000Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between optometric technician and ophthalmology surgical technician education

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

Optometric TechnicianOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorBiologyMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Optometric technician vs ophthalmology surgical technician demographics

Here are the differences between optometric technicians' and ophthalmology surgical technicians' demographics:

Optometric TechnicianOphthalmology Surgical Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 14.7% Female, 85.3%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 optometric technician and ophthalmology surgical technician duties and responsibilities

Optometric technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
  • Preform pre-test on patients, using auto refractor, NCT and OCT and fundus photos.
  • Identify, reference and apply insurance coverage and present financial policies and arrangements accurately to patients.
  • Perform and interpret OCT and HVF.
  • Measure eye pressure with Tonopen and tonometer.
  • Maintain accurate and organize patient records, including EHR.
  • 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

Optometric technician vs ophthalmology surgical technician skills

Common optometric technician skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Field Testing, 8%
  • Excellent Organizational, 7%
  • Pre-test, 5%
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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