Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. The role reports a median annual salary of $48,790 in the US and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Postsecondary nondegree award, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.43 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £29,931 a year for Medical and dental technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £26,955 to £36,120 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3213). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Ophthalmic Medical Technologists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
What you'd actually do
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Ophthalmic Medical Technologists do?
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.
How much does Ophthalmic Medical Technologists earn?
The median annual salary for Ophthalmic Medical Technologists in the US is $48,790.
What is the job outlook for Ophthalmic Medical Technologists?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 178,800 workers.
How do I become ophthalmic medical technologists?
The typical entry education is a Postsecondary nondegree award. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Ophthalmic Medical Technologists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Ophthalmic Medical Technologists?
Our AI-durability model gives Ophthalmic Medical Technologists a score of 0.43 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.