Job Responsibilities
Patient care - assisting ophthalmologists in care of eye
patients, performing diagnostic testing on eyes, such as
ultrasound, photography, fluorescein angiography, visual fields,
then processing test results for subsequent readings by
physicians.
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Job Requirements
Often an associates degree, then specialized ophthalmic
technical training program. Completion of program qualifies one
to take national certifying examination.
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Uppers
Taking care of patients, talking to patients and helping them. Often the
technician has the privilege of spending more time with patients than the
doctors. Rewards in doing a good job and helping people.
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Downers
Working in a private practice is definitely better than working
in a hospital setting. In private practice, the doctors know
your worth; however in a hospital setting, you are at the mercy
of management, who has no idea or understanding of the
specialized training you have or the time it actually takes to
do a great job. In a hospital, it's all about THEIR money.
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Lifestyle
Work hours are generally full-time with occasional overtime. There is an annual
meeting, the American Academy of Ophthalmology which has a huge program for
technicians. Sometimes your employer will pay for this meeting, sometimes not.
Pay rate is different in different parts of the US.
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Compensation
Depending on your level of certification, pay can range from $10
to $30 or more per hour. Private office employees get bonuses,
hospital employees don't.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Job outlook is probably great, especially with the aging of the
population. My advice is to be very careful who you work for,
talk to others at your level in the office or hospital and don't
rely on hospital public relations to tell you how "great" their
place is to work.
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