What does an ophthalmic nurse do?
An ophthalmic nurse is a registered nurse who cares for patients with eye disease and injury, and before and after eye surgery such as cataract removal. Most work in ophthalmology practices and outpatient surgery centers.
Settings
Ophthalmology offices and clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, hospital eye services and emergency departments that treat eye injuries. Most eye surgery is done as same-day outpatient surgery, so the hours tend to be regular compared with inpatient units, see family-friendly nursing fields.
The work
Assessing vision and eye symptoms, giving eye drops and medication, preparing patients for surgery, teaching about drops and activity limits after surgery, and watching for complications such as pain or sudden vision change. Ophthalmic technicians, who do much of the testing in clinics, are a separate role from nurses.
Training
An RN license is the entry point, and employers often train nurses on the job. The American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses offers education and resources for nurses in the field. Nurses interested in operating room nursing can work in eye surgery.
Pay
Not reported separately by the federal data. The median RN earned $97,550 in May 2025, with outpatient settings often paying somewhat differently from hospitals. Compare pay by state.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.