A Workforce Solution to Expand Access to Eye Care

When I stepped away from my role as the medical director and owner of Matossian Eye Associates, I was not ready to leave ophthalmology behind. Like many others, I had witnessed firsthand how the technician shortage—exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—affected patient access and practice performance. Understaffing caused clinics across the United States to struggle to maintain efficient patient flow and provide high-quality care. I wanted to give back to the field in a meaningful way, so I founded a nonprofit organization called the American College of Eye Technicians (ACET)—pronounced asset because every technician is an asset to their practice.

Modern ophthalmology is increasingly driven by testing. Diagnostic imaging, dry eye evaluations, and electronic health record documentation require skilled, well-trained personnel. Without a robust pipeline of ophthalmic and optometric assistants, patient access to care suffers, and so does practice revenue.

I remember days when I was told not to schedule dry eye procedures because of a lack of staff, not patients. These were cash-pay services that could have relieved chronic discomfort for many patients. That experience became the catalyst for launching ACET.

RETHINKING TECHNICIAN TRAINING

Excellent training programs for technicians already exist, but many prospective candidates do not even know this career path is an option. Too often, people become ophthalmic technicians by chance—because they know someone or answered a help-wanted ad. This field is invisible to most young adults who are not bound for college but are seeking stable, fulfilling careers in health care.

ACET starts at the widest part of the funnel. It recruits men and women from underserved communities who are 18 years of age or older—people who might not have considered college or are unsure of their next step. Instead of dropping them into the deep end of a busy eye care clinic, ACET prepares them with a foundational, simplified training program that prioritizes self-confidence, retention, and early success.

A Streamlined, Structured Curriculum

The ACET course spans 8 weeks, with 2-hour virtual classes each week that are accessible nationwide. The AAO’s Ophthalmic Medical Assisting: An Independent Study Course text is used as a base, but the material has been pared down substantially and simplified for greater clarity and accessibility.

Students are evaluated on their punctuality, participation, homework, and exam performance. They take weekly quizzes and complete a final online exam from the AAO. Tuition is $500, but ACET offers a 50% rebate if students complete the course, pass the final exam, and remain in their placed job for at least 90 days.

The organization also provides career support, including résumé building. Students now dedicate 15 minutes of every session to constructing their CVs incrementally.

From Training to Employment

Upon completion of the ACET course, students can opt for job placement assistance through the organization’s partner executive search firm. They are placed according to their preferences—large or small practice, ophthalmology or optometry, urban or suburban setting. The goal is not just to train but also to enable individuals to transition into their first-ever professional roles with confidence.

One of ACET’s first students was a night security guard who disliked his isolated, nocturnal routine. After completing the ACET program, he joined a busy ophthalmology practice as a technician and told me, “For the first time, I have a career, not just an hourly job.” He was able to afford his own apartment and buy a used car—milestones that reflected not just economic change but personal dignity and transformation.

ENHANCING PRACTICE READINESS

Many practices expect senior technicians to train new hires on the fly—a task that is both logistically and emotionally burdensome. ACET front-loads the didactic and disease-state education so that, when graduates enter a clinic, they know how to spell ophthalmic terms, understand ocular anatomy, and grasp the why behind the how.

Thanks to generous support from companies such as Alcon, Dompé, Bausch + Lomb, Bausch Foundation, EyePoint, Topcon, RxSight, and the Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation, students also watch instructional videos on equipment such as OCT devices, perimetry systems, and topographers. Although students do not gain hands-on experience, they arrive at the practice ready to absorb information and contribute.

ISSUING A CALL TO ACTION

Improving access to eye care requires bridging the workforce gap. Technicians are not just ancillary staff but critical enablers of modern care delivery. ACET is one solution. I hope more of my colleagues will become involved in the organization by sponsoring a student, spreading the word, or welcoming a new graduate into their practice. visit aceted.org/ to learn more about ACET.