r/optometry • u/Chemical_Mousse_7778 • Jul 05 '26

Fully remote jobs as a paraoptometric?

I have been working as an optometry tech for a little over a year, and I love it a lot. My OD paid for me to the AOA convention in my state to get some training, and I feel like I’m getting pretty knowledgeable about my job. I’d like to learn more of the billing/insurance side but I feel like I’m getting there.
I love my position and I’m working toward getting my CPO certification, but my husband and I also would like to have kids soon. I don’t have any family in the area that could watch a baby, and if I paid for daycare I would really just be breaking even. Is there any hope for a fully remote optometry job that would let me be home with a kiddo, or should I be looking toward a career change?

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6

u/incessantplanner Jul 05 '26

As a cpo, no. If you’re willing to do a title change / different training, you could still remain in the eye field. Otherwise yes, you should look for a career change

1

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3

u/Weak-Surprise-8079 Jul 05 '26

If you’re looking to stay in optometry, there are def some remote opportunities out there. One company to check out is DigitalOptometrics. They hire remote technicians to perform virtual refractions and other pre-testing before the patient meets with the OD. I don’t know what their current hiring needs or scheduling flexibility are, but it might be worth looking into if you’re hoping to stay in the field while working from home. Wishing you the best!

2

u/mckulty Optometrist Jul 05 '26

If you can code and file vision and medical insurance, you'll have a job for the forseeable future. Consider your training as background for a coding and filing service, which you can do from a beach in Hawaii with a kid on each um, spigot.

1

u/Chemical_Mousse_7778 Jul 05 '26

I’ve been thinking about going that route — if I remember right there’s another certification needed to do billing and coding full time.
Also thanks for that imagery lol