How Optometrist Techs Enhance Eye Care Practices and the Patient Experience

Professionals in the eye care field face numerous hurdles, such as large patient volumes, frequent changes in regulations, staffing shortages, resource restrictions, and more. In a fast-paced environment where meeting patient needs can feel impossible, the optometrist tech position acts as a much-needed helping hand, assisting in necessary administrative tasks, communicating with patients, prepping exam rooms, performing initial eye exams, providing education, and much more. Ophthalmologists rely on techs to perform seemingly endless duties that keep the clinic running.

At Weave, we offer comprehensive practice management software for optometry offices that can relieve some of the burden on optometric technicians while improving overall efficiency. Below, we review an optometric technician’s primary duties and job outlook to help you understand whether your office should consider opening new employment opportunities.

What Is an Optometrist Tech?

An optometrist tech assists optometrists in providing eye care. The responsibilities of an optometric technician include conducting preliminary eye exams, managing patient records, performing diagnostic tests, educating patients about eye treatments, and maintaining equipment. Optometric technicians ensure the smooth operation of the optometrist’s office, supporting both the clinical and administrative aspects.

The optometrist technician role differs from other careers in the vision field in a few ways. Optometrists, for example, are eye doctors who can treat visual field issues and prescribe treatments such as contact lenses. On the other hand, an ophthalmologist can treat any issue relating to the eye, including eye pressure diseases requiring the provider to perform surgery.

An optometric technician supports optometrists, focusing on eye examinations, visual field testing, and in-office procedures. In contrast, an ophthalmic tech supports ophthalmologists, so they might prepare patients for surgery and assist in other procedures. An ophthalmic technician is not the same as an optometrist tech, but they often perform similar duties.

Key Responsibilities of an Optometrist Tech

The primary responsibilities of an optometric technician include the following:

• Conducting preliminary eye exams
• Dispensing glasses and contact lens prescriptions to patients
• Managing patient exam records and updating patient medical histories
• Assisting with diagnostic tests and exam procedures
• Providing patient education and communication before and after the exam
• Maintaining and sterilizing equipment in the exam rooms
• Completing various administrative tasks

The techs you hire may complete varying roles depending on the education program you provide and additional certification programs. For example, if your practice focuses primarily on visual exam services, your techs may need to specialize in glasses and contact lens distribution.

The Formal Training Program, Essential Skills, and Qualifications of an Optometrist Technician

The first step in hiring a new optometrist technician at your facility is learning the correct requirements to look for in interested hirees.

Here are some of the required skills you can list on the employment posting:

• Technical proficiency with optometric instruments
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Organizational and administrative capabilities

The qualifications for becoming an optometric technician can vary depending on the state and the exact job duties. General requirements include a high school diploma or GED and experience in the optometric field.

Beyond a high school diploma, aspiring techs do not need to attend medical school, gain their bachelor’s degree, or pass a particular certification exam. Instead, they can choose specialty certification, a formal training program, or on-the-job training from previous positions.

On-the-job training offers receptionists and other staff members an excellent opportunity to progress their careers through hands-on experience. As a manager, you could consider offering education and training to your current staff, or you may post the optometric technician position on career boards, which would require further combing, background checks, employment interviews, job training, etc.

Optometric Technician Career Path and Opportunities: Specializing in Contact Lenses, Pediatrics, Paraoptometrics, and More

Many optometric technicians take additional training programs to progress past the standard tech career. Aspiring techs must work as an optometric assistant for at least one year under the supervision of an optometrist. With further certification completion and job training, an optometric technician can progress their career to the following job titles:

• Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA): Can work with specialized equipment like lensometers and ophthalmometers for visual acuity and focus
• Certified Paraoptometric Technician (CPOT): Can perform ophthalmic photographs and ultrasounds while providing supervision over assistants

An optometric technician may also specialize in various career areas like pediatrics, glasses and contact lens fittings, and more by working in specific doctor offices.

The optometry field also offers a promising job outlook for optometrist technician applicants. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the optometry field, particularly for optometrists, is expected to grow by 9%, which is faster than the national average.

The median salary for an optometric technician varies greatly based on location. For example, optometric technicians in Utah make an average of $16 per hour, while the U.S. national average sits around $19 per hour. Technicians with more education beyond a high school diploma typically can expect to make above the average range.

Enhancing Practice Management With Technology for Optometric Technicians

Hiring a new technician can alleviate some of the burdens your optometry practice deals with, but you cannot place too many duties on one person. Upgrading your practice’s management system can make the tech’s job easier while improving the experience you provide to patients. Ultimately, your techs will have more time to assist patients and support doctor needs as your software can automate their time-consuming job duties like filling out patient forms.

With Weave’s practice management technology, everything from scheduling appointments to patient education becomes streamlined. You can automate appointment reminders, patient follow-ups, billing, payments, digital forms, record keeping, and more, freeing up your optometry techs to focus on the more complex parts of the job, like engaging with patients.

Case Studies and Success Stories

Weave has helped numerous businesses grow at scale, supporting 88 million+ monthly interactions between patients and providers. Desiree Davis, the practice manager of Bee Cave Vision Center and Dripping Springs Vision Center, integrated Weave before the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming, “Our patients love the ease of texting their insurance cards to us and any pertinent information needed.”

Bee Cave Vision Center, Dripping Springs Vision Center, and the many other practices leveraging Weave enjoy the following advantages:

• Improved patient satisfaction
• Increased efficiency from a reduced administrative workload
• Enhanced patient communication

Read more Case Studies about how Weave Works.

Weave: Helping Optometric Technicians Succeed

The optometrist tech plays a pivotal role in every optometry practice. By hiring new techs or providing the right education to your existing staff, you can support your providers and foster a more efficient clinic.

At Weave, we support your practice management even further by helping you automate manual tasks while enhancing patient communication. Get a demo today to see how Weave can benefit your practice.