Program Description
This 150-hour Ophthalmic Assistant Program prepares students for entry level positions in ophthalmology, one of the fastest growing healthcare segments. Through classroom lecture and labs, this program includes: anatomy and physiology of the eye, principles of pharmacology related to ophthalmology, prescription interpretation, visual acuity, basic tonometry and glaucoma, ocular imaging, and the use of ophthalmic equipment and instruments. Students will gain practical skills in taking patient health histories, testing vision, conducting refractions, measuring eye pressure, and performing imaging and diagnostic examinations. Following successful completion of 150 instructor-led classroom/lab instruction and a 400-hour clinical experience, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) certification exam through the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO). All textbooks, certification exam, uniforms, and BLS certification included.