Ophthalmic Assistant
On-Campus Certification Course from Drury University
Program Description
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
Ready to Work (RTW) Job and Externship Placement Services
If you enroll and successfully complete this program you will have guaranteed access to our Ready to Work (RTW) Job and Externship Placement Services at no additional cost. Ready to Work (RTW) provides comprehensive career support services including: resume building, employer outreach, and individualized placement guidance.
Our RTW Job Placement Recruiters actively work with employers to place students in local employment opportunities on a daily basis.
However, if you choose the RTW Externship Placement (as opposed to Job Placement), please note the following requirements:- Drug Screen and Background Checks are Required: Must be completed prior to externship placement.
- Weekday Externship Availability Required: You must be available Monday through Friday, between 7am – 5pm for a minimum of 4 hours per day. You may attend 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week.
- Evening and Weekend Externships Are NOT Available: Except for certain Pharmacy Technician externship placements which may have evening and weekend opportunities.
- Externship Must be Completed On-Site at the Employer Facility - Remote Externships Are Not Available: Except for certain limited remote Medical Billing & Coding (MBC) externships which may be completed remotely.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED
Program Details
- On-Campus Program
- Hands-On Labs
- All Course Materials
- Certificate of Completion
- Job & Externship Opportunities