Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Machines can already do 24% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 51%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 24% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 51% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 182,610 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $50,290 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 88% for contact with people.
- Also called: Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS), Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT), Ophthalmic Echographer, Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (Ophthalmic Medical Tech).
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.
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.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take and document patients' medical histories | 9% | 64% to 78% | |
| Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests | 9% | 27% to 64% | |
| Calculate corrections for refractive errors | 7% | 54% to 76% | |
| Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure | 5% | 3% to 25% | |
| Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications | 5% | 3% to 25% | |
| Educate patients on ophthalmic medical procedures, conditions of the eye, and appropriate use of medications | 5% | 36% to 57% | |
| Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision | 5% | 18% to 51% | |
| Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery | 5% | 3% to 25% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills ophthalmic medical technologists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Psychiatric Technicians32% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,130
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- Athletic Trainers39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,520
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $48,430
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Ophthalmic Medical Technologists?
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 technologists?
Machines can do 24% of the tasks of ophthalmic medical technologists today and 51% 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 29-2099.05 (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 Technologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/ophthalmic-medical-technologists/