Health Technician (Optometry)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Health Technician (Optometry) at the advanced level to support complex eye examinations and diagnostic testing. You will perform visual acuity measurements, color vision tests, perimetry, imaging, and triage, while teaching patients about managing complex conditions.

You will assist the eye care provider with procedures and administer eye drops under supervision, ensuring safe pharmacology knowledge and patient education.

Qualifications

• Experience as health technician or assistant or equivalent education.
• English language proficiency as per VA standard.

Responsibilities

• Measure and record visual acuity.
• Evaluate pupillary light responses and pupil size.
• Perform stereoacuity measurements and color vision tests.
• Administer eye drops under supervision of eye care provider.
• Assist optometrist/ophthalmologist with procedures.
• Provide patient education and training for complex conditions.

Skills

Visual acuity

Pupillary testing

Stereoacuity testing

Eye drops administration

Ophthalmic procedures

Patient education

Lensometer usage

Color vision testing

Visual field testing

Ocular pharmacology

Education

One year of experience in health tech/assistant

Two academic years above HS in related health field

Associate degree or health care course work

Tools

Lensometer

Imaging equipment

Job description

The health technician (optometry) at the advanced level demonstrates knowledge of complex examinations and techniques, including advanced color vision testing, perimetry, ophthalmic imaging and diagnostic testing, triage of patients, patient education and training for complex eye and vision conditions, and demonstrates knowledge of ocular pharmacology and ocular side effects of systemic medications.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education or Training:
  1. Experience. One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field; OR
  2. Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree, or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field; OR
  3. Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples: (a) Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant related courses (b) Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or the U.S. Public Health Service, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration. None.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements.

GS-08 Health Technician (Optometry). You must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-07 level. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: measuring and recording visual acuity; evaluate pupillary light responses and measure pupil size, determine the presence or absence of fusion and perform stereoacuity measurements; administer eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider; assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures; provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions; reading a basic spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer, performing confrontation and standard automated visual field testing and administering and scoring basic color vision tests.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Ability to provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions.
2. Knowledge of advanced triage of patients depending upon level of urgency or optometry needs.
3. Knowledge of complex, non-standard treatment and/or complex examinations and techniques.
4. Knowledge of ocular pharmacology and systemic medications with ocular side effects.

Specialized Experience: 1+ year of Eye Health Technician Experience.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:

Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. however, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.