Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 29-2057.00
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.35
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 8 hidden tasks20 rated tasks · 12 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (60.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Take and document patients' medical histories.O*NET Task ID 19252 | 1.0 |
Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.O*NET Task ID 19240 | 0.5 |
Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.O*NET Task ID 19242 | 0.5 |
Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.O*NET Task ID 19244 | 0.5 |
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.O*NET Task ID 19245 | 0.5 |
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.O*NET Task ID 19248 | 0.5 |
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.O*NET Task ID 19249 | 0.5 |
Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.O*NET Task ID 19250 | 0.5 |
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.O*NET Task ID 19251 | 0.5 |
Assist patients to select eyewear.O*NET Task ID 19254 | 0.5 |
Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.O*NET Task ID 19256 | 0.5 |
Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.O*NET Task ID 19258 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (20)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications. | Core |
| Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes. | Core |
| Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses. | Core |
| Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery. | Core |
| Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments. | Core |
| Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles. | Core |
| Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision. | Core |
| Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses. | Core |
| Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment. | Core |
| Measure and record lens power, using lensometers. | Core |
| Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests. | Core |
| Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes. | Core |
| Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements. | Core |
| Take and document patients' medical histories. | Core |
| Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery. | Core |
| Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception. | Core |
| Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure. | Core |
| Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism. | Core |
| Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses. | Supplemental |
| Assist patients to select eyewear. | Supplemental |
0.90/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications. | E0 none |
| Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses. | E0 none |
| Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and record lens power, using lensometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements. | E2 structured facilities |
| Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery. | E0 none |
| Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception. | E0 none |
| Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure. | E0 none |
| Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism. | E2 structured facilities |
| Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 73K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 88K
- Change (2025–35)
- +21.4%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $45,570
- Typical education needed for entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24699 | 그 외 치료‧재활사 및 의료기사 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3256Medical Assistants
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Medical assistants perform basic clinical and administrative tasks to support patient care under the direct supervision of a medical practitioner or other health professional.
Tasks
- (a) interviewing patients and their families to obtain information on their health status and medical history;
- (b) assisting medical doctors and other health professionals to examine and treat patients, including measuring and recording vital signs, administering medications and performing routine clinical procedures such as giving injections and removing sutures;
- (c) getting patients ready for examination and treatment, including explaining procedures and showing them to examination rooms;
- (d) preparing and handling medical instruments and supplies, including sterilizing instruments and disposing of contaminated supplies in accordance with safety procedures;
- (e) collecting blood, tissue or other specimens, and preparing them for laboratory testing;
- (f) providing information to patients and families on health care topics including medications prescribed by a medical doctor or other health professional;
- (g) providing prescription and drug refill information to pharmacies;
- (h) maintaining cleanliness of patient waiting and examination rooms;
- (i) recording information on patients' medical history, diagnostic testing and treatment procedures and results, and other information in medical records-keeping systems;
- (j) scheduling appointments with patients, and preparing documentation required for billing, reporting and insurance purposes.
Example occupations
Clinical assistant · Medical assistant · Ophthalmic assistant
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- optometristESCO 2267.1Overlapping, not the same
Optometrists examine and test eyes to identify abnormalities, visual problems, or disease. They prescribe and fit lenses such as spectacles and contacts, and offer advice on visual problems. They may also refer patients to a medical practitioner. Their scope of practice and title varies according to national regulations.
- orthoptistESCO 2267.2Overlapping, not the same
Orthoptists diagnose and treat anomalies of binocular vision. They examine, assess and treat vision impairments, squint, amblyopia and eye motility disorders. Orthoptists apply these methods in particular in the fields of paediatrics, neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, ophthalmology, orthoptics, optometry, pleoptics and strabology assessing functional diseases of the eye for improving functional disorders of the visual system. They also provide counselling, preventive measures and training activities and may refract and prescribe glasses, such as prism corrective glasses.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| J1407 | Orthoptiste | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| J1405 | Opticien / Opticienne | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2155 | Ópticos-optometristas | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 81132 | Orthoptisten/Orthoptistinnen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 81102 | Medizinische Fachangestellte (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 145 | 視能訓練士，言語聴覚士 | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources