An optometrist assistant, also known as an optometric technician, assists a doctor in the performance of duties related to vision and eye care. In some cases, an assistant’s responsibilities are broad and include general office work, whereas other optometrist assistants have more specific responsibilities. This type of paraprofessional will be responsible for assisting and counseling patients, attending to doctor needs, and monitoring equipment and applications.
An optometrist assistant can work for a variety of employers, including government agencies, private companies, and health care facilities. A private doctor’s office is the most common work environment for these types of assistants. Many others work for health-care institutions like hospitals and laboratories. A job as an optometrist assistant with a private company that sells eye care products is another option.
A typical day in the life of a paraprofessional working in a private practice might include assisting patients to exam rooms, preparing them for the doctor, and scheduling appointments. An optometrist assistant may also be in charge of teaching patients how to care for their eyes after surgery, how to properly wear lenses, and how to strengthen their eyes. The office may also have a department where the assistant can assist patients in selecting, adjusting, and purchasing glasses and other eye care products.
Some optometrist assistants don’t interact with patients much, instead focusing on the preparation and distribution of eye-care products. This type of optometrist assistant may work in a lab, where they manufacture, repair, and coordinate the delivery of frames, contact lenses, and other eye care items. An optometrist assistant may perform both patient care and lab work in some cases.
An optometrist assistant may also be responsible for general office tasks such as calling patients, scheduling doctors, and keeping track of office supplies and paperwork. In larger organizations, this assistant may be responsible for supervising others and training and evaluating them. An optometric technician, on the other hand, may concentrate on more technical aspects of the job, such as preparing equipment for eye tests, performing eye assessments, and assisting the doctor during examinations and surgeries.
Most optometrist assistants learn the majority of their skills while on the job. An optometrist technician may have completed training in optometric techniques and applications in some cases. An optometrist assistant’s work environment can be diverse, and specialized training in one area of the industry can help advance one’s career.