Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 29-2099.05
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· 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
0.045
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, 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
0.30
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
Exposed tasks only31 rated tasks · 22 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (71.0%)
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. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Take and document patients' medical histories.O*NET Task ID 19287 | 1.0 |
Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.O*NET Task ID 19260 | 0.5 |
Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.O*NET Task ID 19261 | 0.5 |
Calculate corrections for refractive errors.O*NET Task ID 19263 | 0.5 |
Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.O*NET Task ID 19264 | 0.5 |
Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception.O*NET Task ID 19265 | 0.5 |
Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles.O*NET Task ID 19266 | 0.5 |
Conduct tests, such as the Amsler Grid test, to measure central visual field used in the early diagnosis of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diseases of the eye.O*NET Task ID 19267 | 0.5 |
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.O*NET Task ID 19269 | 0.5 |
Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT).O*NET Task ID 19270 | 0.5 |
Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.O*NET Task ID 19271 | 0.5 |
Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism.O*NET Task ID 19272 | 0.5 |
Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma.O*NET Task ID 19274 | 0.5 |
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.O*NET Task ID 19275 | 0.5 |
Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye.O*NET Task ID 19277 | 0.5 |
Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.O*NET Task ID 19278 | 0.5 |
Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects.O*NET Task ID 19279 | 0.5 |
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.O*NET Task ID 19281 | 0.5 |
Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery.O*NET Task ID 19282 | 0.5 |
Conduct low vision blindness tests.O*NET Task ID 19284 | 0.5 |
Perform ophthalmic triage, in the office or by phone, to assess severity of patients' conditions.O*NET Task ID 21190 | 0.5 |
Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications.O*NET Task ID 21191 | 0.5 |
Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.O*NET Task ID 19259 | 0.0 |
Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.O*NET Task ID 19262 | 0.0 |
Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.O*NET Task ID 19268 | 0.0 |
Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods.O*NET Task ID 19273 | 0.0 |
Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures.O*NET Task ID 19276 | 0.0 |
Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff.O*NET Task ID 19280 | 0.0 |
Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments.O*NET Task ID 19283 | 0.0 |
Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.O*NET Task ID 19285 | 0.0 |
Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.O*NET Task ID 19286 | 0.0 |
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 (31)
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 abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia. | Core |
| Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope. | Core |
| Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery. | Core |
| Calculate corrections for refractive errors. | Core |
| Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment. | Core |
| Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception. | Core |
| Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles. | Core |
| Conduct tests, such as the Amsler Grid test, to measure central visual field used in the early diagnosis of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diseases of the eye. | Core |
| Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure. | Core |
| Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision. | Core |
| Measure and record lens power, using lensometers. | Core |
| Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism. | Core |
| Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods. | Core |
| Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma. | Core |
| Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests. | Core |
| Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures. | Core |
| Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye. | Core |
| Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects. | Core |
| Supervise or instruct ophthalmic staff. | Core |
| Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue. | Core |
| Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery. | Core |
| Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments. | Core |
| Conduct low vision blindness tests. | Core |
| Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses. | Core |
| Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment. | Core |
| Take and document patients' medical histories. | Core |
| Perform ophthalmic triage, in the office or by phone, to assess severity of patients' conditions. | Core |
| Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications. | Core |
| Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT). | Supplemental |
| Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment. | Supplemental |
0.71/ 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 abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia. | E0 none |
| Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope. | E2 structured facilities |
| Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery. | E0 none |
| Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment. | E0 none |
| Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception. | E0 none |
| Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Conduct tests, such as the Amsler Grid test, to measure central visual field used in the early diagnosis of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diseases of the eye. | E0 none |
| Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure. | E0 none |
| Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and record lens power, using lensometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism. | E2 structured facilities |
| Measure corneal thickness, using pachymeter or contact ultrasound methods. | E2 structured facilities |
| Measure the thickness of the retinal nerve, using scanning laser polarimetry techniques to aid in diagnosis of glaucoma. | E2 structured facilities |
| Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests. | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform advanced ophthalmic procedures, including electrophysiological, electrophysical, or microbial procedures. | E0 none |
| Perform fluorescein angiography of the eye. | E0 none |
| Photograph patients' eye areas, using clinical photography techniques, to document retinal or corneal defects. | E2 structured facilities |
| Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Conduct low vision blindness tests. | E0 none |
| Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment. | E0 none |
| Create three-dimensional images of the eye, using computed tomography (CT). | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 29-2099 group (Health technologists and technicians, all other), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 186K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 196K
- Change (2025–35)
- +5.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $50,290
- 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 3259Health Associate Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This unit group covers health associate professionals not classified elsewhere in Sub-major Group 32: Health Associate Professionals. For instance, the group includes occupations such as HIV counsellor, family planning counsellor and other health associate professionals.
Tasks
- In such cases tasks would include:
- (a) interviewing and examining patients to obtain information on their health status and the nature and extent of injury, illness or other physical or mental health condition;
- (b) providing information and counselling to patients and families about certain health conditions, prevention and treatment options, treatment adherence, and personal behaviours that can affect health outcomes;
- (c) administering therapeutic care and treatment to patients;
- (d ) performing certain basic clinical procedures, such as administration of HIV antibody tests or insertion of intrauterine devices;
- (e) dispensing and advising on dietary supplements, antiretroviral and prophylaxis medications, and other healthcare products
- (f) monitoring patients' progress through treatment plans, and identifying signs and symptoms requiring referral to a medical doctor or other health professional;
- (g) recording information on patients' health status and responses to treatment in medical records-keeping systems;
- (h) sharing information with other health care providers when required to ensure continuing and comprehensive care.
Example occupations
Anaesthesia technician · Family planning counsellor · HIV counsellor · Respiratory therapy technician
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.
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 | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 81102 | Medizinische Fachangestellte (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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