Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.
AI Impact Summary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 31/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 48% of all analyzed occupations. Of 20 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Ophthalmic Medical Technicians skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
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SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
20 tasks analyzed
Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
Take and document patients' medical histories.
Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.
Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.
Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses.
Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.
Assist patients to select eyewear.
Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 8% | |
| Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 8% | |
| Take and document patients' medical histories. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 8% | |
| Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 6% | |
| Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 6% | |
| Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 6% | |
| Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Measure and record lens power, using lensometers. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 6% | |
| Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 3% | |
| Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 4% | |
| Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 4% | |
| Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 3% | |
| Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 3% | |
| Assist patients to select eyewear. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 2% | |
| Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 29.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$44,080
per year
Mean Wage
$45,360
per year
Employment
77K
workers
Wage Range
$34,210 - $60,810
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change