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Associate of Applied Science Degree: Ophthalmic Technician

Our new Associate of Applied Science: Ophthalmic Technology degree program will train you to be a skilled eyecare professional. A degree from The College of St. Catherine will give you the best possible professional preparation for a rewarding, successful career in ophthalmic medical assisting.

As a student in the Associate of Applied Science: Ophthalmic Technology degree program, you will develop skills in ophthalmic medical assisting (OMA) through a combination of professional courses and clinical training. Small class and lab sizes ensure the individualized attention you need to prepare you for a promising new career.

As an ophthalmic technician, you will use sophisticated ophthalmic equipment and measurement techniques to aid ophthalmologists in delivering superior eyecare diagnoses and treatments.

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The expansion of the eyecare field — with new treatments offered to a greater number of people in new settings — mean more opportunities for OMAs than ever before. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in medical assisting occupations, including ophthalmic technicians, is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. Wages are at all-time highs.

Ophthalmic technicians are vital members of professional eyecare teams. They obtain important information and perform ophthalmic tests and protocols to assist ophthalmologists — medical doctors who deliver eyecare — by:

• Interacting with patients and obtaining their histories
• Performing ophthalmic tests, measurements and procedures
• Maintaining optical and surgical instruments
• Fitting glasses and contact lenses
• Assisting ophthalmologists in the treatment of eye disorders

What is ophthalmology — and how will I fit into the eyecare team? Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine specializing in the anatomy, function and diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (with MD or DO degrees) specializing in the treatment of eye disorders, vision measurements for glasses (refraction), eye muscle exercises (orthoptics), and the prevention of blindness and care for the blind.

The ophthalmology team includes ophthalmologists and Ophthalmic Medical Assisting (OMA) professionals credentialed according to three levels of ophthalmic medical assisting expertise: ophthalmic assistants, technicians and medical technologists. The College of St. Catherine Associate of Applied Science: Ophthalmic Technician Program plans to start the accreditation process by applying to the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs (CoA-OMP), and following and complying with their requirements, standards, and guidelines. Graduates of accredited programs are eligible to take the national Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) examination, administered by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO), immediately after graduation.

Certified ophthalmic technicians work in private clinics, hospitals, medical centers, and university research and training centers. Some advance into positions as clinic managers and trainers, or take positions in research, technical writing, sales, consulting, and the military.

A caring profession with a great career outlook
Ophthalmic technicians are in demand, with many opportunities for growth and advancement. With the growth in refractive surgery (PRK, LASIK, LASEK and CK), cosmetic surgery and other treatments for an expanding and aging population, opportunities for ophthalmic technicians are growing as never before.

Flexible working conditions
Most ophthalmic technicians work in private clinics and other settings that allow for greater flexibility and more routine working hours than many other healthcare professions. As an ophthalmic technician, you’ll get the rewards of working directly with patients in clinical and surgical settings, while retaining flexible working conditions to suit a variety of lifestyles.

Gain professional certification
This College of St. Catherine degree program is designed to meet professional accreditation standards developed by the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs (CoA-OMP). As with any new OMA training program, the Associate of Applied Science: Ophthalmic Technician degree will undergo a comprehensive, standardized review by CoA-OMP. After receiving programmatic accreditation by CoA-OMP, students graduating from the Associate of Applied Science: Ophthalmic Technician Program will be immediately eligible to sit for the two-part Certified Ophthalmic Technical (COT) examination administered by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).