Takeover Tracker
21%low risk
Optometrists
vs

55 shared · 35 different

core competencies

41%medium risk
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOptometristsOphthalmic Medical Technologists
Risk Score21.5%41.5%
Risk TierLow RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile10th84th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)1 / 106 / 15
Median Salary$134,830$48,790
Employment42K174K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Biology
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Science
Inductive Reasoning
Analyzing Data or Information
Deductive Reasoning
Medicine and Dentistry
Chemistry
Therapy and Counseling
Psychology
Administration and Management
Problem Sensitivity

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Optometrists

35%

total discount

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

31%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Optometrists

1 of 10 at risk
53%Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
39%Examine eyes, using observation, instruments and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities such as glaucoma or color blindness.
39%Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
39%Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
39%Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements and safety factors.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

6 of 15 at risk
88%Take and document patients' medical histories.
88%Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
86%Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
51%Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
51%Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.

Wage Comparison

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists earns -$86,040(-64%) vs Optometrists
OptometristsOphthalmic Medical Technologists
10th
$70,060$37,290
25th
$103,310$40,740
Median
$134,830$48,790
75th
$163,710$62,280
90th
$203,210$81,290

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Optometrists2028–2035
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Optometrists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Ophthalmic Medical Technologists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Optometrists

$105,909

from $134,830

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

$28,547

from $48,790

After adjusting for AI risk, Optometrists offers $77,362 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Optometrists

0

Unique to Ophthalmic

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Decision Complexity
Creativity
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
OptometristsOphthalmic Medical Technologists
Find transitions from OptometristsFind transitions from Ophthalmic Medical Technologists