Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off: 37–50 days annually

Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks

Child Care Subsidy

Retirement benefits

Telework options available

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for an Ophthalmology Technician to support our ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. You will conduct diagnostic procedures and assist in clinical surgeries.

This role requires experience in health care and certification, focusing on patient education and technical operations. A supportive environment offering various benefits is guaranteed.

Qualifications

• Must possess United States Citizenship.
• At least one year of experience in a health care field.
• Educational qualifications in a health care field or equivalent experience.
• Certification required for certain performance levels.

Responsibilities

• Conduct technical screenings and calibrations of instruments.
• Obtain and evaluate detailed patient medical histories.
• Measure visual acuity and eyeglass prescriptions.
• Assist in clinic-based ophthalmic surgeries.

Skills

Patient counseling

Technical calibration

Visual acuity testing

Refractometry

Pupil evaluation

Education

Associate's degree in a health care related field

Certification as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)

Tools

Ophthalmology screening instruments

Goldmann applanation tonometry

VA computer systems (CPRS, VISTA)

Job description

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow‑up care, and patient counseling. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard but complex diagnostic procedures, assists during clinic‑based surgical procedures, educates patients and legal representatives, and assists with the education of medical students and residents.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship
• One year of experience in a health care field such as nursing, medical assistant, or health technician
• Two years of post‑secondary education with at least six semester hours directly related to a health care field or an associate’s degree in a health care related field
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying (e.g., six months of experience with one year of post‑secondary education, or completion of a recognized ophthalmic technician course)
• Certification as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)
• Non‑certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B) with a two‑year waiver of certification for a position below the full performance level; certification is required for grades at or above the full performance level
• Grade Determinations: GS‑5 (Entry Level), GS‑6 (Developmental Level 1), GS‑7 (Developmental Level 2), and GS‑8 (Full Performance Level) – each grade requires the experience, education, KSAs, and duties outlined in the full job standard

Duties

• Check and perform calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
• Obtain patient physical history (chief complaint, reason for visit, pertinent signs and symptoms, current medications, allergies, past ocular and general medical history, family history, social history, and review of medication and allergies)
• Accurately test visual acuity at distance and near with and without correction, or with a pinhole
• Measure eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder
• Perform pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light, accommodation, and any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect
• Perform basic refractometry using auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in a phoropter
• Instill eye medications (drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, cycloplegic drops, or antibiotics)
• Measure intraocular pressure using Goldmann applanation tonometry
• Perform pachymetry and manual keratometry or automated topography for corneal thickness and curvature
• Assist during clinic‑based ophthalmic surgery (e.g., revision of wounds, biopsies of eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea, reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphemia, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intravitreal injections, and laser surgical procedures)
• Schedule patient appointments, testing, procedures, and consults
• Complete appropriate paperwork and computer entries in a timely manner and maintain documents to facilitate summarization of information required by the Eye Section
• Ensure availability of medications, supplies, and equipment in the clinic area, and perform cleaning, disinfection, calibration, maintenance, backup, and ordering of instruments
• Greets patients, checks in, fields telephone calls and messages, and communicates information to the appropriate personnel
• Use VA computer systems (CPRS, VISTA, and other required software programs) effectively and efficiently

Benefits

• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
• Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays)
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: Full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs (maximum monthly $416.66)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5-year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions by VA Insurance; federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance programs
• Telework: Available (but this is not a virtual position)