Ocularist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for an ocularist job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an ocularist. Feel free to use our ocularist job description template to produce your own ocularist job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an ocularist.
Who is an Ocularist?
An ocularist is a trained eye specialist with expertise in the art of designing, creating, and fitting unique ocular prosthetics. In addition to making personalized ocular prostheses and offering long-term care through routine checkups, an ocularist gives the patient comprehensive instructions on how to take care of and maintain their prosthesis. Ocular specialists and ocularists are two synonyms. Ocularists are often oculoplastics specialists who work in tertiary eye hospitals’ oculoplastics departments. They create, offer, fit, and maintain ocular or orbital prostheses. The patient’s personality, sense of self-worth, and quality of life in terms of their health are all improved by improving the appearance of their eyes and faces. In light of this, they significantly contribute to the oculoplastic department as a team member.
Ocularists treat those with congenital abnormalities of the orbit or eye as well as those who have had their globes removed due to trauma, tumours, or debilitating diseases that cause blindness. For those who have lost an eye or eyes as a result of trauma or sickness, an ocularist is a specialist in the creation and fitting of ocular prostheses. For those who have lost an eye or require eye removal, an ocularist can make them a pair of personalized prosthetic eyes. Precise measurements must be taken before the ocular prosthesis is painted, shaped, and fitted. Although there are “stock” artificial eyes, the prosthesis an ocularist creates is carefully tailored to the wearer. The role of an ocularist is fundamentally distinct from that of an oculist, who is a general term for a medical eye specialist, such as an optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist.
The specialist field of ocularists combines the areas of anatomy and art. To give a person with a prosthetic eye the best results possible takes very delicate attention to detail, physical skill, and patience. An impression, or cast, of the eye socket, is created by an ocularist to start the process of installing a new artificial eye. An acrylic prosthesis’ actual mould, which is created from the impression, is moulded using plastic. The basic prosthesis is created in the mould, precisely shaped as required, and painted using the patient’s second eye as a model for the white, iris, and pupil. He or she advises the patient on how to properly care for and maintain the new prosthesis after doing a final fitting to evaluate shape and colour-matching. Ocularists may need a delicate touch when dealing with patients who have experienced the traumatic loss of an eye because they are frequently in physical pain and worry about their future. This is in addition to the physical aspects of fitting, shaping, and painting prosthetic eyes. For example, pediatric eye replacement, implants that can move to mimic natural eye tracking, and scleral shells, which fit over a scarred or discoloured but functional eye to restore its look, are some subspecialty areas for ocularists. A few ocularists may create personalized eye prostheses for animals who have lost an eye, even though replacing human eyes is the more usual use for their services.
At the initial appointment, an ocularist evaluates the patient’s orbital shape, measures the patient’s eye socket, and matches the colour of the prosthesis to the iris and sclera of the neighbouring eye. When the prosthesis is prepared, the ocularist inserts it into the orbit and makes small changes to enhance the prosthesis’ overall look. The ocularist instructs the patients on how to put on, take off, and care for the prosthesis. Ocular prostheses require routine polishing to restore the acrylic finish and preserve the health of the surrounding tissues, much like keeping hard contact lenses. An ocularist should see a patient who wears a prosthesis once or twice a year. To make ocular prostheses, ocularists need manual dexterity, strength, endurance, and patience. Many are intelligent mechanical geniuses, ingenious, creative, and good decision-makers. They collaborate and work independently to quickly produce high-quality products. Ocularists appreciate using equipment and instruments. They are responsible for designing, making, painting, and fitting implants, conformers, and ocular prostheses. Solving socket fitting issues requires close collaboration with an oculoplastic surgeon. The loss of depth perception brought on by monoculars is discussed with patients. Every patient receives instruction on the value of safety goggles at each appointment. Ocularists also maintain and repair fabrication and lab machinery. You need exceptional manual dexterity, creativity, and compassion to succeed as an ocularist. Finally, a top-notch ocularist should be well-versed in ocular anatomy and have exceptional communication abilities.
Ocularist Job Description
What is an ocularist job description? an ocularist job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an ocularist in an organization. Below are the ocularist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an ocularist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an ocularist include the following:
- Take referrals from doctors, including ophthalmologists, general practitioners, and optometrists.
- Make ocular prosthetics that are unique to you.
- Create eye socket imprints.
- Ensure the best possible patient care.
- Fit, design, and create a new prosthetic eye for patients using a comfortable and cooperative process.
- Join a multidisciplinary team with other medical professionals and workers.
- Offer an emergency service for all problems our patients encounter.
- Install and keep up ocular prostheses.
- Give patients instructions on how to maintain their prostheses.
- Improve patient comfort during fitting by using the most up-to-date medical impression materials.
- Keep track of the information about the patients.
- Give patients the necessary review and polishing instructions.
- Inform the patient’s ophthalmologist and optometrist about their condition.
- Offer the top-notch, most cozy artificial eye.
- Encourage patients to use a regular artificial eye polish to improve their comfort and prosthetic eye appearance.
- Keep abreast of advancements in eye problem care, diagnosis, and therapy.
- Make plans and processes for ophthalmologic services and implement them.
Qualifications
- Courses in fine art or medical illustration are required.
- Possession of National Examining Board board certification.
- Prior Ocularist experience is required.
- Thorough understanding of ocular manufacture and fitting.
- Exceptional artistic talent.
- Strong communication abilities.
- Strong physics and math abilities and superior medical knowledge.
- Excellent managerial and administrative skills
- The excellent synergy between the hands and the eyes.
Essential Skills
- Customer service skills: This skill is needed because ocularists treat patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Customers’ trust and enduring connections can be developed by providing excellent customer service and sensitive medical care. Customer service abilities cover the specialized abilities needed for working with clients. The purpose of these abilities is to give clients a satisfying experience and assist them in finding a solution. For them to be able to meet their patient’s needs and keep a base of devoted patients, ocularists must have strong customer service abilities.
- Time management skills: The capacity to work accurately and recognize potential faults are referred to as attention to detail. Some ocularists design their schedules, which calls for meticulous time management. They frequently alternate between a variety of chores and appointments without stopping. They need to effectively manage their time to care for patients. Ocularists must pay close attention to every detail to use the tools and equipment necessary for their work. Similar to how paying attention to detail may help them detect potential problems while checking their patients’ eyes or guarantee that they give proper prescriptions to their patients.
- Attention to detail skills: Being detail-oriented is one of an ocularist’s crucial skills. To use the tools and devices necessary for their profession, ocularists must pay close attention to every aspect. The same goes for their ability to accurately prescribe medications for their patients or identify potential problems when inspecting their eyes.
- mathematics and science acumen: Biology, chemistry, math, and other sciences are the main subjects of Ocularists’ official education. It might be simpler for prospective ocularists to pass the tests required to earn a degree and a license if they have excellent math and science backgrounds.
- Concentration skills: Working with attention and accuracy are related to concentration. Some ocularists could have busy workplaces. When performing surgical procedures on patients’ eyes, ocularists must focus to examine, diagnose, and treat their patient’s eyes. An ocularist who can focus intently performs their work without interruption and with more efficiency and accuracy. To provide the patient they are caring for with good and precise treatment, they must be able to focus on them specifically.
- Medical knowledge and expertise: One of the essential technical abilities for an ocularist to gain is medical knowledge. To support their medical skills, they must have a solid understanding of mathematics and physics. Having this knowledge could aid them in correctly diagnosing and treating their patients by teaching them more about illnesses and injuries.
- Artistic skills: Ocular prostheses are made by ocularists using a combination of art and medicine. They first make a cast of the impression after taking an imprint of the eye socket. The cast is then used to create a mould, which is then shaped to resemble an eye. They now paint, tint, and match the hues, veins, and pupils of the eye using the healthy eye as a guide. The ocularist makes a duplicate acrylic eye and polishes it to perfection after the artistic work is flawless.
- Communication skills: The capacity to receive, process, share, and record information is a component of communication skills, which also include spoken and written communication skills. To interact with their patients, explain their treatment options, or show them how to do something, like insert contact lenses, ocularists must master great verbal communication skills. Ocularists who are proficient in written communication keep reliable records for each of their patients. They must also have strong reading comprehension skills to comprehend these charts and data.
- Active listening: The ability to fully concentrate on a speaker to absorb and comprehend what they are saying and to answer thoughtfully is known as active listening. This calls on the listener to interact with the speaker and keep in mind the specifics of what they said. To comprehend their patients and their experiences, ocularists need to have strong active listening abilities.
How to Become an Ocularist
Step 1. Education
High school education and the age of at least 18 are prerequisites for becoming an ocularist. Ocularistry is not taught in schools. Apprenticeship with an authorized ocularist is required to learn how to create artificial eyes (a Board Approved Diplomat Ocularist). A five-year program of supervised practical training under an accredited ocularist is also an option for students who desire to become ocularists after completing education requirements through the American Society of Ocularists. Aspects of orbital anatomy and physiology, fitting theory, materials, processing, and manufacturing, iris and sclera colouring, patient care, office hygiene, office management, and communication skills are all covered in the ocularists’ courses. The Society of Ocularists is the only body that provides ocularists education and training, it should be noted. To help ocularists get ready for their certification tests, classes are provided during the Society’s twice-yearly meetings.
Step 2. Training
Finding a qualified ocularist with more than 10 years of experience who can train you as an apprentice is necessary if you want to become an ocularist. Ophthalmologists receive ongoing training in a variety of topics, including fitting theory, materials, processing, and fabrication processes, iris and sclera colouring, orbital anatomy and physiology, patient care, office hygiene, business affairs, and communication skills. Ocularists must next complete the NEBO certification tests after completing the ASO training. The ocularist’s credentials demonstrate that they are well-versed in both the art and science of ocularists. The American Society of Ocularists does not set up apprenticeship programs. To find an ocularist who can hire and train an apprentice, a potential trainee must get in touch with local ocularists. Attending one of the twice-yearly conferences is advised for persons who are ready and able to move away to meet ocularists from various regions of the country.
Step 3. Certifications
It is typically necessary to get certified by the National Examining Board of Ocularists. The certification body for ocularists in North America is called the National Examining Board of Ocularists (NEBO). Ocularists who have passed the NEBO exam are given the designation of Board Certified Ocularist by NEBO. Board Certified Ocularists are those ocularists who have obtained and maintained NEBO accreditation (BCO). This particular ocularist has also promised to create personalized prostheses rather than generic ones. Be aware that the Canadian Society of Ocularists maintains a directory of Certified Ocularists. The Board Certified Ocularist (BCO) designation is given by NEBO to ocularists who pass a demanding two-part written and practical exam. Every six years, NEBO must recertify all BCOs and compel them to continue pursuing education requirements.
Where to Work as an Ocularist
Optometric establishments, clinics, and studios all employ ocularists to create personalized ocular prosthetics. They could also work on their own. To suit patients’ schedules, ocularists often put in 40 hours per week, with sporadic weekend and evening overtime. He or she spends the majority of their time indoors, either working alone or with others. To comprehend their patients’ needs and provide top-notch care when required, a competent ocularist will collaborate with several medical specialists, including nurses, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. Some ocularists opt to serve as academic or consulting staff. More travel, public speaking, and teaching are all part of their daily schedules.
Ocularist Salary Scale
The average ocularist gross wage in the United States is $94,198, which equates to a $45 hourly wage. They also receive a $2,025 bonus on average. The typical compensation for an entry-level ocularist (1-3 years of experience) is $66,505. The average compensation for a senior-level ocularist (8+ years of experience) is $116,720. Ocularists and other prosthetists in general typically earn around 595,000 NGN per month in Nigeria. From lowest to highest pay, their salaries range from 298,000 NGN to 922,000 NGN. This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Ocularists’ salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location.