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Jump Start -- by Mark Sproxton
Job openings in the eye care industry are multiple and varied. And with Canada's aging population, those openings are sure to expand in the years ahead. If eye care is something that grabs your attention, here's a list of some of the education/training opportunities available locally. Additionally, there are links to industry job boards, associations, descriptions on potential job opportunities at a laser eye clinic and some tips from an Alberta optician.
Laser eye clinic
Eye clinics conducting laser eye surgeries hold opportunities beyond those for people with vision problems. A multitude of jobs, all with differing levels of training, are also available at local eye clinics. Fran from Demong Associate Eyecentre outlined the number of possibilities available at an eye clinic. (Every clinic will be different.)
The reception team, all with backgrounds in medical reception, is responsible for duties such as answering phones, making appointments and acting as a relay point between patients and insurance companies.
Three levels of ophthalmic techs work at the clinic, each requiring more advanced studies and testing. Before enrolling in training programs, however, those looking to become either an ophthalmic assistant (COA), an ophthalmic technician (COT) or an ophthalmic medical technician (COMT) must first be hired by an ophthalmologist.
The ophthalmic tech group conducts several types of tests -- the more advanced the training, the more advanced the tests they perform -- and explain to patients what is happening with the tests and their eyes. This group also answers many of the questions patients may have and tests equipment before it is used by the ophthalmologist. These jobs are often readily available, especially to those who already have some of the certification under their belt.
The route to become an ophthalmologist is a long one. After completing medical school, a four-year residency followed by a two-year fellowship is required to become an ophthalmologist. These doctors then conduct medical exams of the eyes and provide treatment either through medications and/or exercises, and surgery.
Some clinics, such as Demong, have a registered nurse on staff to work as a counsellor to patients if they have questions about an upcoming procedure and to act as the contact person between the medical procedures that go on in the office and insurance companies, for example.
Tips for opticians
"It's a good field for people that want to work while going to school," said Maureen Hussey, information director with the Alberta Opticians Association (AOA). Even after completing the program she said many continue to work part-time in order to enjoy other aspects of life.
She recommends people keep up their math skills if they're considering this career as there is some need for trigonometry, algebra and physics. "It's not hard, but if you've got the math background it helps." The calculations are used, in part, to determine which way light rays will bounce, for instance.
Education/training
The University of Calgary (U of C), through its department of medicine, allows doctors to specialize in ophthalmology after completing the pre-requisite medical training.
The U of C also offers bachelor of science degrees which can helpful in entering any of the school-based eye programs.
The University of Waterloo offers the lone English optometry program in Canada. The other four-year program is offered in French at the University of Montreal. Specific information about pre-requisite courses and other registration details are contained on the Waterloo Web site.
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) offers several programs that can lead to work as an optician including a two-year home-study eye glass dispensing program. For licensed opticians, NAIT also offers programs in contact lens dispensing and site testing/refractometry.
NAIT also offers a six-month correspondence course for those looking to work in the eye care field as an optical assistant.
Hospital-based training programs to become an orthoptist are available at four hospitals in Canada. Applicants must first complete a bachelor of science degree before applying for one of these programs. For more information, visit this site from The Canadian Orthoptic Society.
A certificate course for optometric assistants is available through the Canadian Association of Optometrists. The distance-learning course requires participants to first be employed by a practising optometrist and to remain employed through to completion of the course.
Courses to work toward certification as a certified ophthalmic assistant (COA), certified ophthalmic technician (COT), or a certified ophthalmic medical technician (COMT) are offered through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. Study guides for those programs, in addition to links to the hospital-based programs in Canada (Yellowknife, Halifax, Ottawa) are found at that site.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) offers two phases of an ophthalmic assistant program. Participants must be sponsored by an ophthalmologist and work for the ophthalmologist while complete either or both of the four-month programs. (Click on the section called Health to download details, or visit the Calgary Youth Employment Centre's resource library and read more in SAIT's Continuing Education calendar.)
Job boards
Associations
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