2020-2021 Catalog [Aug. 2020-Aug. 2021] [Archived Catalog]
Ophthalmic Technician (2180) (A.S.)
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Associate in Science
This is a Limited Access program.
Mission/Purpose
The mission of the A.S. Ophthalmic Technician is to create competent, ethical, confident entry-level health care practitioners committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.
The Program
The Allied Ophthalmic Professional (AOP) is a skilled person, qualified by didactic and clinical ophthalmic training, who performs ophthalmic skills under the direction or supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery and qualified in medical and surgical ophthalmology.
The function of the AOP is to assist in the care of the ophthalmic patient by obtaining subjective and objective information from the patient and to assist the ophthalmologist in medical and surgical treatment of the ophthalmic patient.
Duties that may be performed by an Allied Ophthalmic Professional include:
- Obtaining an ocular and medical history
- Testing ocular functions, including visual acuity, ocular motility, pupillary function, tonometry, and visual fields.
- Determining lens combinations for optimal visual performance at a distance and for reading.
- Taking anatomical measurements of the eye and surrounding tissue.
- Administering advanced ocular motility and binocular function tests.
- Performing advanced visual system tests including color vision, tear film quality, and contrast sensitivity.
- Performing computerized diagnostic tests, including visual field analysis, optical coherence tomography, and corneal topography.
- Performing ophthalmic clinical photography, including external, anterior segment, and fundus photography.
- Assisting in fluorescein photography.
- Assisting in the fitting of contact lenses.
- Instructing the patient in use and care of contact lenses.
- Performing ophthalmic biometry and intraocular lens calculations.
- Administering topical ophthalmic medications.
- Maintaining ophthalmic instruments and equipment.
- Maintaining and sterilizing ophthalmic and general surgical instruments.
- Assisting in ophthalmic surgery in the office, hospital, or ambulatory surgical center setting.
- Assisting in procedure and diagnostic coding for ocular examination.
- Providing supervision and instruction of other ophthalmic personnel and patients.
Allied Ophthalmic Professionals supply important information to the physician who is assessing the patient and assist in areas such as surgery and patient education/compliance; they are not independent practitioners and do not diagnose or treat eye disorders, nor do they prescribe medications or optical correction.
The goal of this A.S. degree is to produce competent entry-level health-care practitioners in the eye care field in a positive and supportive learning environment.
A minimum grade of C or better must be achieved in all professional coursework.
The Career
According to the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO), ophthalmic medical personnel are in high demand. This demand is due to technological advances in vision care and an aging population with many vision care needs.
Program Accreditation
The Ophthalmic Technician program is accredited by the International Council on Accreditation of Allied Ophthalmic Education Programs (ICA).
Certification/Licensing
Each graduating student of the Ophthalmic Technician program must take the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) Ophthalmic Technician Certifying Examination (COT) as a requirement for graduation. This examination is administered within one month prior to the end of the student’s last semester in the program.
Application Procedure
This program is Limited Access and requires a separate application. Specific information on program admission requirements, application and costs can be obtained from the program director for the Ophthalmic Technician program, North Campus. Students must complete the required prerequisite courses prior to acceptance into this program.
Application Deadline(s)
The application deadline is May 15 each year with classes starting in Fall term.
Need More Information? Contact:
Call (904) 646-2300 or hcic@fscj.edu
More Information Online
- Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology: atpo.org
- International Council on Accreditation of Allied Ophthalmic Education Programs: icaccreditation.org
- International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) Ophthalmic Technician Certifying Examination (COT): jcahpo.org/certification/
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