An ophthalmic nurse is someone who specializes on eye health. These nurses would assist in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, as well as care for patients diagnosed with eye diseases or injuries.

Though ophthalmic nursing is not as exciting as other specialties, ophthalmic nurses are high in demand. We have gathered a full outline on how to become an ophthalmic nurse, and what your roles would be on a daily basis.

Ophthalmic nurses would treat the following eye diseases and injuries:

• Glaucoma
• Blindness
• Astigmatism
• Cataract
• Macular degeneration
• Near and far-sightedness
• Scratched Cornea
• Eye trauma

Ophthalmic Nurse – Job Description:

These nurses would typically assist opthalmologists. Their roles and duties include:

• Assisting in eye examinations, recording symptoms, and performing vision tests
• Recording patient history
• Performing physical examinations so as to uncover the underlying cause
• Playing an important role in patient education
• Administering medications like eye drops
• Educating patients how to care for the eye injuries/illnesses at home
• Assisting in contact lens or spectacles fittings
• Assisting in surgical procedures
• Caring for the patients before and post surgery

So, where do these ophthalmic nurses work?

Most often, these nurses will find their work in hospitals, eye care centers, ophthalmologist’s offices, and clinics. They could also work in:

• Laser center
• Eye banks
• Home health
• Refractive surgery center
• Charitable organization

Since most of the eye treatment procedures can be carried out on an outpatient basis, ophthalmic nurses would often work in an ambulatory atmosphere as a staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, nurse director, or primary nurse.

Becoming an Ophthalmic Nurse:

Educational Requirements:

The ophthalmic nurse aspirants should obtain the required education as the first step towards their career. As such, they must complete an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in nursing for the purpose of becoming eligible for their state’s license in the U.S. As an alternate option, several hospitals are offering various diploma courses to help meet the education requirements of the state licensure.

As most people are aware, the bachelor’s degree program would require the candidate to dedicate four years, while the associate’s and diploma programs could be completed in two or three years. During the program, the students would complete their coursework in the following subjects:

• Anatomy
• Chemistry
• Nutrition
• Microbiology
• Nursing

These programs would also include clinical training that enables the students to gain experience meeting and handling the patients.

So, an individual has a nursing degree? What’s next? Well, as a next step, the nurse would require a license to practice as an RN in the United States. This is mandatory for registered nurses in all fields, including ophthalmology. Nurses who are able to meet the education needs of the state would sit for the “National Council Licensure Examination” to be an RN. This licensing exam would test the candidate for the knowledge in patient care and management, safety, pharmacology, and infection control. Once the nurse has got their RN license, they can start her work as an ophthalmic nurse.

An ophthalmic nurse may choose to become certified by the “National Certification Board for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses.” However, you could apply for this certification only after completing two years or 4000 hours of working in ophthalmology settings. This requires the nurse to attend and pass certification for ophthalmic nurses.

What does an employer look for in an ophthalmic nurse?

A typical employer who looks for an ophthalmic nurse to work in their organization would most likely look for the following qualifications:

• Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in nursing
• An active RN license
• Prior working experience
• Certification for Registered Nurses for Ophthalmic nurses
• Prior experience working in the ophthalmic environment
• Experience conducting eye tests and administering medications like eye drops
• Competent interpersonal, as well as communication skills
• Attention to detail

If any individual is found to be having all of these qualifications, they will be more likely to be chosen to work with an organization as an ophthalmic nurse.

Career Outlook for Ophthalmic Nurses:

As of now, the ophthalmologic nursing is not among the most favorite fields of specializations among nurses. But, this only means that the demand is higher.

Moreover, job opportunities in this field are expected to increase due to the increase in the elderly population in the country. And, knowing the salary also helps. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for ophthalmic RNs was $68,450 as of May 2016.