Optometric Technician Job Description

Understanding Optometric Technician Job Description

Since more than 150 million people in the United States alone need eyeglasses and contact lenses to see clearly, the job of an optometric technician remains important and in demand. Because over 50% of American adults have seen an optometrist at one time or another, the optometric technician job makes it a viable career option. If you are interested in optometry as a career, but do not want to take the entire four-year post-graduate optometry course, you may be interested in becoming an optometric technician instead. But what is the optometric technician job description? What do they do?

The optometric technician job description is like an all-around assistant to the optometrist. It predictably pays less than an optometrist, but more than an optometric assistant. This is because the optometric technician job description includes more technical duties compared to an optometric assistant.

Part of the optometric technician job description is to assist the optometrist in conducting eye examinations. Also included in the optometric technician job description is to take measurements, teach patients to use contact lenses, explain eye exercises to them, clean instruments and order supplies. Also included in the optometric technician job description is handling the billing of patients and keeping various patient records.

Part of optometric technician job description is testing patients for color vision, depth perception, visual acuity, pupil reflexes, eye pressure, visual field testing and blood pressure. The optometric technician must also explain to the patient the proper use and care of eyeglasses and contact lenses.

It is usually specified in the optometric technician job description that a person needs to have great communication skills, be very organized and self-motivated, be able to have good judgment, be able to handle hectic schedules.

Another responsibility in the optometric technician job description is to help make and repair eyeglasses, and be able to guide patients in choosing the right eyeglass frame to buy. Included in the optometric technician job description as well is the necessary know-how to clean sophisticated ocular equipment.