They take medical histories, use precision instruments to administer diagnostic tests, measure eyes, and test eye functioning. At times, they provide technical assistance to ophthalmologists during eye surgery. These workers change eye dressings, administer eye drops or oral medications, and teach patients how to insert, remove, and care for contact lenses. Sometimes, they may help ophthalmologists dispense eyeglasses and contact lenses. Among their other duties are caring for and maintaining optical and surgical instruments.
Medical assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment.
They need to be careful when performing clinical work, such as sterilizing equipment or doing laboratory tests. Employment Medical assistants held about 156,000 jobs in 1990. Three out of five were employed in physicians' offices, and about 1 in 5 worked in offices of other health practitioners such as optometrists, podiatrists, and chiropractors. Slightly more than 1 in 10 worked in hospitals. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Medical assistants often are trained on the job.