Essential Functions: Optometric Technician Program

During the course of the Optometric Assistant program, students must demonstrate the ability to perform the functions listed below safely, reliably, and efficiently.

Disability Act Statement: Madison College complies with all provisions of the American with Disabilities Act and makes reasonable accommodations upon request for qualified individuals. If you believe you may need accommodations to assist you in performing the functions listed below, please contact the Disability Resources Services (DRS) office at (608)246-6716 or (800)322-6282 ext. 6716 (deaf students via Relay 711) or email(link sends e-mail).

Critical Thinking: Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment and professional behavior.

  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Identify cause-effect relationship in clinical settings
  • Prioritize flex with change
  • Follow a process from start to finish, utilizing sequential steps established
  • Organize workload and manage time in order to complete technical tasks within realistic time limits

Interpersonal Skills: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with others from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.

  • Establish a good working relationship with patients, physicians, teachers, classmates, coworkers, and supervisors
  • Be honest and forthright about errors
  • Respect and value cultural differences
  • Critically evaluate performance, accept constructive criticism, and be responsible for improving performance
  • Be compassionate and ethical

Communication: Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.

  • Follow written and oral directions
  • Be able to communicate, speak and write in English
  • Be comfortable working in very close proximity with patients
  • Enter and retrieve data on a computer terminal
  • Maintain clear concise and accurate patient records and reports
  • Communicate professionally, concisely, effectively and courteously with patients

Mobility: Physical abilities sufficient to maneuver as required to perform patient pretesting, contact lens dispensing and dispensing of eyewear.

  • Move freely and safely about the office or clinic
  • Be able to stand for extended periods of time
  • Reach eyewear displays above and below eye level
  • Be able to twist and hold arms above head for various testing procedures

Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective patient care.

  • Grasp and turn joystick of optical instruments
  • Ability to use both hands together to control frame adjustments and maneuver equipment
  • Grasp, twist wrist, and apply pressure to optical dispensing tools
  • Students must be able to perform certain skills and procedures to meet industry standard time constraints as specified in the course syllabus
  • Grasp small objects with fingers (screws, start nuts and nose pads)
  • Ability to push, pull or lift 20 lbs.
  • Administer eye drops
  • Manipulate contact lenses and ability to apply and remove them from a patient's eye
  • Type minimum of 25 wpm

Math: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and/or divide whole numbers.

  • Read measurement markers correctly
  • Basic algebra understanding
  • Do metric conversions

Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor equipment and assess patient needs.

  • Recognize and respond to patient's words
  • Hear auscultatory sounds during blood pressure measurement

Visual: Visual ability sufficient to monitor equipment and assess patient needs.

  • Have adequate visual acuities, both distant and near
  • Observe patient responses
  • Read gauges and instrument printouts accurately
  • See into eyepiece of microscope and optical instruments distinguishing detail
  • Use depth perception
  • Use peripheral vision
  • Distinguish color and color intensity

Touching: Tactile ability to sufficient for technical procedures.

  • Clean and polish soft and rigid contact lenses
  • Apply and remove soft and rigid contact lenses on patient's eye
  • Palpate for pulses
  • Apply eye crops and ointment to patient's eye

Emotional Endurance: Ability to work in a moderate to high stress environment, respond to emergencies and maintain emotional control.

  • Calmly react to urgent situations
  • Be able to perform skills in a calm confident manner during routine and urgent situations
  • Perform multiple tasks and establish priorities
  • Deal with the unexpected
  • Focus attention on task

Environmental Safety: Ability to protect self and others from environmental risks and hazards.

  • Tolerate frequent hand washing
  • Follow established safety procedures