The Ophthalmic Assistant course provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to perform patient care procedures in the ophthalmic office. Ophthalmic assistants work directly with patients, greeting them and documenting their medical histories as well as assisting in administering diagnostic tests, measuring and recording vision, testing eye muscle function, providing eye-related patient education, and assisting the ophthalmologist as requested. They also assist in maintaining optical instruments, supporting patients before and after cataract surgery, and assisting with the administrative tasks of the office, such as scheduling appointments, answering telephones, and maintaining records.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Medical Terminology, Anatomy and physiology, Pharmacology & Microbiology of the eye
• Scheduling appointments
• Obtaining consents and insurance information
• Maintaining records
• Preliminary examinations
• Understanding ophthalmic equipment
• Facts about glasses and contact lenses
• Visual fields, ocular injuries and common eye/retinal disorders
• Asepsis technique and minor office surgery
• Glaucoma
• Topical; prescriptions written for the eye
• Visual acuity; near and distance
• Laser in ophthalmology
• Computerized corneal tonometry & refractive surgery
• Maintaining surgical and other supplies
• Taking patients' medical histories and ethics
• Teaching patients about procedures
• Review of maintaining, sterilizing, and setting up instruments for surgery
• Assisting with surgery and patient monitoring
• Applying medications and eye dressings

Required Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Learners who complete this program will then participate in a volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience.  As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.