An optometrist assistant supports a physician in vision and eye care, with duties varying from general office work to patient care and lab work. They can work in government agencies, private companies, and healthcare facilities, with private practice being the most common. Professional education is often gained on the job.
An optometrist assistant, sometimes called an optometric technician, supports a physician in fulfilling tasks related to vision and eye care. In some cases, a job assistant’s duties can vary greatly and include general office work, while other optometrist assistants have more narrow job descriptions. Such a paraprofessional will be needed to help and advise patients, attend to physician needs, and monitor equipment and applications.
There are many types of work circumstances for an optometrist assistant, including government agencies, private companies, and healthcare facilities. The predominance of workplace situations for these types of assistants is in private practice. Many others work for healthcare organizations such as hospitals and laboratories. Another type of employment situation that an Optometrist Assistant may encounter is a job with a private company that wants to sell eye care products.
For those paraprofessionals who work in private practices, the typical day might involve helping patients in exam rooms, preparing for the doctor, and scheduling appointments. An optometrist assistant may also be tasked with teaching patients the correct procedures for eye care after surgery, wearing lenses properly, and strengthening the eyes. The office may also have a department where the assistant can help patients choose, fit, and purchase eyeglasses and other eyewear.
Some optometrist assistants do not work with patients as much, but focus more on preparing and dispensing items used to support eye health. This type of optometrist assistant may work in a laboratory, producing, repairing, and coordinating the delivery of frames, contact lenses, and other eye care items. In some cases, an optometrist assistant may do a combination of patient care and lab work.
An optometrist assistant can also focus more on general office tasks, such as calling patients, arranging appointments for doctors, and keeping track of office supplies and paperwork. In larger organizations, this assistant may supervise others and need to train and evaluate them. An optometric technician, on the other hand, may focus more on technical requirements, such as preparing equipment used to test the eye, performing ophthalmologic evaluations, and assisting the physician during exams and surgeries.
Most assistant optometrists get most of their professional education while working on the job. In some cases, an optometrist technician may have completed schooling in optometric techniques and applications. Situations for an optometrist’s assistant can vary greatly, and training focused on one sector of that sector can be helpful in furthering one’s career.
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