Take a New Direction with MSC's Ophthalmic Assistant Program

Looking for a new direction with your career? Check out the Maricopa Skill Center Ophthalmic Assistant program!  

Do you know the difference between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist?

Optometrists are usually the primary health provider for normal vision problems and yearly checkups. The position requires a Doctor of Optometry degree and a license, and allows the diagnosing for common vision acuity problems like farsightedness and nearsightedness, prescribing corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, dispensing and prescription of certain medication, plus testing for eye diseases and conditions.

Ophthalmologists can perform the same functions as optometrists, but are considered a higher position, as they actually are medical doctors with Doctors of Medicine or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine degrees who specialize in the eyes and vision care. This means an ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat highly complicated eyes issues, can perform surgeries like Lasik and repair retinal damage, and can handle more area specific cases in vision care. The main difference between the two eye-related careers is that an ophthalmologist can handle surgeries and other issues that require more training on the medical side.

Ophthalmic Assistant Program:

Students in the Ophthalmic Assistant program are prepared to assist ophthalmologists and optometrists in examining and treating patients with vision problems, vision disorders, and eye diseases.

Program details: 

Students are in class for at least six hours a day, Monday-Thursday. It is a 662-clock hour program that takes approximately seven months to complete.

Entry Requirements:

Students must be 18 years of age, attained high school diploma or G.E.D. Also students have to obtain a Level 1 fingerprint clearance card, pass MCCCD background check and drug screening, and have proof of immunizations. This is due to off-site clinic visits and “hands on care” training.

What the students learn:

Students are instructed in various duties and responsibilities such as taking patient histories, basic eye testing and measuring, administering directed treatments and topical medications, diagnostic test procedures and equipment operation, anatomical and functional ocular measurements, patient care, anatomy and physiology of the eye and related body systems, ophthalmic and surgical equipment maintenance, safety and sterilization procedures, and office administrative procedures.

After graduation:

Upon successful completion of the Ophthalmic Assistant Program, students receive an Ophthalmic Assistant certificate, and are eligible to take the Ophthalmic Assistant Exam* that is accredited through JCAHPO and AAO. 

*After 1,000 hours of employment (6 mo.), graduates may take the COA certification exam.

Next program start dates: 

The next start date is April 24, however you need to have your application and prerequisites approved and obtained before being accepted into the program. After that you would need to apply for the August 25 enrollment date.

Find out more! 
Call 602.238.4350. Visit the website. 
Public tours are available 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Program of the Week: Health Care

Ophthalmic Assistant Training

Do you remember the moment where the sign across the street appeared blurry to you? Did you force yourself to squint so hard just so you can read what the words were saying? If so, you should probably make an appointment for an eye exam ASAP!

So, what can you expect in an eye exam?

Students from the Ophthalmic Assistant Program at the Maricopa Skill Center demonstrate the process of a preliminary eye exam that is completed before meeting with an ophthalmologist.

Kerotometer in the Ophthalmic classroom at the Maricopa Skill Center.

Medical History

The patient is asked if there are any known medical histories that could include complaints, allergic reactions, medications, diabetes, injuries, and surgeries. 

Visual Acuity Test
This test is done to measure the sharpness of the patient's vision. He/she holds the occluder to cover one eye at a time while reading a Snellen chart or the near vision card. 

MSC students assist one another through a preliminary eye exam. 

Visual Field Test

The patient is tested to see if he/she is able to see if they have peripheral vision around their visual field. This tests for any early signs of glaucoma, which is an eye disease where the nerve in the back of the eye is damaged.

Extraocular Muscles
This test examines the patient's eye muscles, which is identified as extraocular muscles. This is done using two fingers to make an "H" pattern to check that all muscles are intact. 

Pupil Constriction
A pen light is directed towards the patient's eyes to check if it shrinks (constriction). The light is pointed directly at one eye at a time to see if the other eye reacts equally. When light is flashed at one eye, both pupils should constrict.

 

Instructor Pat Lamb (left) shows how a direct ophthalmoscope is used.

Other Eye Tests

There are other tests that are done while using different instruments to examine the inner eye. Instruments include a tonometer, a direct ophthalmoscope, or  a slit lamp that's mounted on an exam chair.

Tonometer
This is used to measure inocular pressure, which is the inside pressure of the eyes. If there is pressure it may indicate the beginning causes of glaucoma.


Direct Ophthalmoscope
This is a magnified tool that is used to examine the retina, which is a thin tissue layer of the back of the eye. It has a mirror where a blue light reflects into the eye.

Hand-held Slit Lamp
This lamp is also known as a biomicroscope. Before this test is done, orange drops with fluorescein are put into the white area of the eye to indicate any scratches in the surface of the eye. This examines the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, lashes, and lids.

Pat Lamb assists Ophthalmic students how to use a tonometer and a direct ophthalmoscope.

As you can see, getting an eye exam simply doesn't mean you're going in to get prescription eyeglasses or contact lens. Your eyes are being checked for eye disease and overall health!

Stay tuned for next week's program spotlight: Meat Cutting!