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The eye care industry is an important part of the healthcare system that is responsible for managing a wide variety of visual problems through the use of medical evaluation and treatment along with optical products designed to correct refractive errors. Unlike most branches of medicine, the eye care specialty benefits from both service and retail-based branches of the business. Although most optical businesses distinguish between the two departments, the fact that they often operate out of a single facility means that there are many career options available to those who want to work in this sector. An individual who has little interest in completing a college degree in order to become a licensed physician or optometrist, is encouraged to explore the possibility of a career as an ophthalmic assistant. Unlicensed assistants and technicians are widely employed within the healthcare system in order to help perform many routine activities associated with the delivery of high quality and comprehensive care. An individual who has been employed as an assistant within the eye care specialty is generally responsible for tasks that need to be completed prior to a medical eye exam. These tasks often include things like entering the patient’s medical and surgical history in the chart, testing pupils and visual fields, recording visual acuity, sterilizing and arranging instruments, performing automated refraction, measuring ocular pressure, placing drops in the eyes, conducting patient education, and much more. Although these tasks represent the basic activities that are included in the standard assistant job description, other responsibilities might be added based on the needs of the patient population and the employer. In order to become a successful assistant, an applicant must also have the character qualities required to interact constructively with patients and peers. This means that an individual should have a genuine concern for the health and well-being of others, be empathetic towards the frustrations that people express, and have strong interpersonal communication skills. Those who are capable of working in a safe and efficient manner with both patients and colleagues can expect to benefit from broader employment options and a more satisfying career experience. Employers understand the importance of personality in the workplace and they actively seek out individuals who possess desirable character qualities because they know that technical skill can be taught to anyone while personality is difficult to alter. The educational requirements for individuals wanting to pursue a career as an assistant are very low due to the fact that they work under the supervision of licensed personnel and are only allowed to perform activities that do not involve professional knowledge, judgment, or skill. Many assistants discover that they are able to secure employment with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED. Although prior experience does make an applicant more competitive, it is not required in order to be considered for an open position. Due to more stringent regulatory efforts in the healthcare sector, several facilities have started to encourage assistants to voluntarily complete a national certification exam that is specific to the industry. The most common exam option is the certified ophthalmic assistant (COA) exam offered through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). While certification may not be expected, there are several benefits that might come as a result of the completion of formal credentials. These include more employment opportunities, a higher ophthalmic assistant salary, better benefits, and the ability to work in both regulated and unregulated states. As with any profession, it is important to carefully consider the benefits that an individual will enjoy from completing any type of formal education, training, or certification. In addition, employees are strongly encouraged to take advantage of employer reimbursement programs that offer to pay all or a portion of the cost associated with credentialing. Those who are interested in learning more about the profession should consider checking out www.opticiantraining.org where they will find details about practice requirements in different states along with links to helpful career resources.
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ophthalmic assistant, healthcare career, eye care industry,
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