Ophthalmic Medical Technologists — Tasks

Task statements

• Take and document patients' medical histories.
• Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
• Conduct low vision blindness tests.
• Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
• Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.
• Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
• Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
• Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
• Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
• Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.
• Perform ophthalmic triage, in the office or by phone, to assess severity of patients' conditions.
• Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
• Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications.
• Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
• Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.
• Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
• Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods.
• Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
• Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff.
• Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma.
• Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
• Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye.
• Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects.
• Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
• Conduct tests, such as the Amsler Grid test, to measure central visual field used in the early diagnosis of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diseases of the eye.
• Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
• Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.
• Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
• Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures.
• Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.
• Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT).