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US job code 29-2057People-facingHigh change by 2035

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Machines can already do 24% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 52%. The job changes before it disappears.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205024%Half: 2035

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 24% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
  • Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 52% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Size: 71,010 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $45,570 a year.
  • Contact with people: it scores 92% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech), Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA).

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
24%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
52%half the tasks by 2035
US median pay
$45,570a year, May 2025
US jobs
71k71,010 people
Contact with people
92%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Take and document patients' medical histories14%
64% to 78%
Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes14%
27% to 64%
Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests12%
27% to 64%
Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure8%
3% to 25%
Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications8%
3% to 25%
Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery7%
3% to 25%
Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision6%
18% to 51%
Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements4%
27% to 64%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills ophthalmic medical technicians use most, most used first.

Professionalism and work ethicAdaptability and resilienceEmotional intelligenceInterpersonal skillsSelf-managementClinical careCollaborationCommunicationMoral intelligence and integrity

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
What do I do about it

What should you do about it?

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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?

Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of ophthalmic medical technicians?

Machines can do 24% of the tasks of ophthalmic medical technicians today and 52% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-2057.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/ophthalmic-medical-technicians/