Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program

Our Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program students recently practiced applanation tonometry, a technique used to measure intraocular pressure.

After applying fluorescein dye and numbing drops, students used a slit lamp and blue light to assess the force needed to gently flatten a small area of the cornea. This measurement helps eye care professionals evaluate eye health and monitor conditions such as glaucoma.

This week, Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program students are practicing slit lamp examinations. By using a focused beam of light and magnification, the slit lamp provides a detailed view of the cornea and other structures at the front of the eye, providing valuable information about a patient's eye health.

Looking at vision in a whole new light. ✨

This week our Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program students are learning retinoscopy, a technique that uses reflected light from the retina to identify refractive errors. This is a useful skill to help eye care professionals examine patients of all ages.

Today our students are learning the art of refraction through hands-on training, learning how to measure and refine a patient's prescription to help them achieve their clearest, most comfortable vision.

Refraction is a key part of the eye exam and helps determine whether glasses or contact lens corrections are needed.

Learning the details behind every prescription. 👓

Today our Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program students practiced using a lensometer to read and verify eyeglass prescriptions as part of their clinical skills training.

Learning from the experts! Today, our students spent time with Duke orthoptists Ivonne Rodriguez, COMT, CO, and Rachel Loud, CO, Associate Program Director of the Duke Orthoptic Fellowship Program, along with orthoptic fellow Ivan Sandoval, getting an introduction to eye motility and learning eye muscle assessment and testing methods.

Learning by doing! Students in the Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program practiced checking pupils and assessing peripheral vision as they continue building the clinical skills used every day in ophthalmology clinics.
Duke Eye Center

This week in the Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program: learning how to take patient histories and document information in the electronic medical record. These foundational skills help support safe, effective patient care.

Duke Eye Center Duke University School of Medicine

Please join us in welcoming the Duke Ophthalmic Technician Class of 2026-2027 to Duke Eye Center! Over the coming year, these students will gain hands-on clinical experience and classroom instruction while learning alongside our faculty and staff.

We are excited to have them as part of our community and look forward to supporting them as they develop the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers in ophthalmology.