Ophthalmic Medical Assistants: Who They Are and What They Do

Ophthalmologists provide the most advanced eye care for patients with eye conditions and vision issues, making their work the most complex and comprehensive among other eye care professionals. As such, they often need help running their clinics to provide the best services to patients.

Ophthalmic medical assistants are vital staff members who can assist ophthalmologists in their day-to-day activities and tasks to divide the workload and increase efficiency. There is a median of 2.7 clinical assistants per ophthalmologist, and the number of assistants can differ depending on the practitioner’s work and number of patients. They are often overlooked in eye care but provide crucial and helpful services to doctors and patients. Here’s a closer look at who ophthalmic assistants are and what they do:

Who are ophthalmic medical assistants?

Ophthalmic medical assistants are entry-level ophthalmology professionals who manage, test, treat, and communicate with patients. They’re often the first point of contact when visiting an ophthalmologist, as they usually perform preliminary eye examinations and gather medical information to better inform doctors of complaints. Aside from patient-facing tasks, they help manage the doctor’s clinic by booking and managing appointments, filing paperwork, gathering and organizing patient records, and preparing exam or procedure rooms, among many other activities. Attention to detail, precision, and good communication are essential for the job.

What do ophthalmic medical assistants do?

Basic patient care

Ophthalmic medical assistants typically handle any patient care prior to a consultation with an ophthalmologist to ensure the doctor is well-informed of the patient’s current issues, personal history, and previous medical records, if any. They can perform preliminary eye tests and measure visual acuity to check if a patient has any refractive errors or if their vision has changed since the last visit. They can record information about the patient, such as their last eye exam, current medications, and family health history, which can provide insight into their risk of eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration, amblyopia, or cataracts. They can also act as scribes and take down information when the ophthalmologist begins the consultation with the patient. After the consultation or procedure with the opthalmologist, they can assist with paperwork or schedule follow-up appointments to help out patients and keep the clinic organized.

Eyewear education

While ophthalmologists prescribe eyewear to patients who need vision correction, ophthalmic assistants teach patients how to care for their glasses or contact lenses to ensure longevity and hygiene. Many prescription glasses are high-quality; top eyewear brand Oakley specializes in creating lightweight and durable frames, like the Holbrook and Enigma Mass, thanks to its experience in sports eyewear. However, these glasses can be a significant investment, so ophthalmic assistants should guide patients in using them correctly. They can show them how to properly put on or remove the glasses to prevent deforming, where to store them when not in use, and how to clean them to avoid scratches and smudges. Contact lens care is also crucial, and ophthalmic assistants can provide essential instructions so patients can avoid irritation and infection.

Similarly to the advancement of glasses, many modern contact lenses are more hygienic and hydrating. Reusable ones like the Precision7 weekly contact lenses are made with silicone hydrogel and moisturizing agents for a comfortable experience. Despite these innovations, they may increase the risk of eye issues by trapping bacteria in the eye. Ophthalmic assistants should provide thorough guidance on cleaning, storing, and wearing contacts to ensure safety. 

Surgery preparation

Ophthalmologists specialize in surgical procedures to treat eye conditions, and ophthalmic medical assistants can help when necessary. They can prepare procedure rooms before surgery to ensure all supplies are ready, equipment and machinery are functioning correctly, and the area is clean and sterile. They may also perform and assist with any pre-surgery tasks like filling out consent forms or conducting basic eye tests. During the surgery, they can perform basic and advanced procedures and help the ophthalmologist when needed; however, they may not be able to do many advanced tasks or handle more medical tools like an ophthalmic technician. After the procedure, ophthalmic assistants can administer treatments and medications like eye drops and ointments or apply dressings.