All In A Day's Work: Optometric Assistant

Tina Brank, an optometric assistant at Eye Care Centers in Fridley and Maplewood, talks about her job.

Q: What's a typical workday like for you?

A: I assist the doctor with 10 to 20 patients a day, of all ages. My day includes file preparation, reviewing charts, and obtaining results from different vision and eye health tests for the doctor to interpret. I update patients' medical histories, ask questions about their vision and assist the doctor during examinations. I also do light paperwork, field phone calls and schedule patients.

Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?

A: During health screenings, the doctor can detect major medical issues, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. The federal Centers for Disease Control estimates that less than 15 percent of preschool-age children receive eye exams, and we participate in a federal program called InfantSEE, in which optometrists provide free eye assessments for children ages six to 12 months.

Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?

A: I interact with patients of all ages, optometrists, other assistants, the front desk staff and other clinics.

Q: Why did you become an optometric assistant?

A: The clinical setting is a very clean, very professional place to work. There are many educational opportunities available for assistants. For me it's also very sustainable, because it provides a good mix of sitting, standing and moving around, and the hours are stable.

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: I like the clinical setting, the work environment, and the mix of working with people and paperwork. I also like helping new patients through their first exam. A lot of times they come in and don't know what to expect. I like to educate and help the patients so they may have a pleasant first experience at the eye doctor.