Optometry Assistant, Student Health Services - 141063

UC San Diego Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health’s Student Health & Well-Being cluster seeks an Optometry Clinic Assistant to support daily operations, assist the Optometrist Supervisor, and help with optical services. You will conduct preliminary vision tests, train first-time contact lens wearers, manage appointments, process insurance, and maintain supplies, while upholding privacy and delivering friendly patient service.

This role emphasizes accuracy, teamwork, and a commitment to high quality care within the university

Qualifications

• Experience in optometry operations and handling eyewear equipment.
• Experience using Epic EMR and computerized scheduling systems.
• Ability to take spectacle and contact lens prescriptions and document results.
• Strong verbal and written communication for patient interactions.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities in a clinical setting.
• Commitment to patient privacy and HIPAA/FERPA compliance.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Optometrist Supervisor and clinic staff with daily optical clinic operations.
• Record preliminary vision test results in Epic EMR.
• Provide contact lens training for first-time wearers.
• Process contact lens orders and maintain dispensing records.
• Greet patients, verify insurance, schedule appointments, and coordinate referrals.
• Maintain optical inventory and assist with billing and payments.

Skills

Optometry ops

Customer service

Communication

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Vision testing

Frames & lenses fitting

Tools

Epic EMR

Scheduling software

Job description

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 8/28/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire.

DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Student Health & Well-Being (SHW) cluster is to promote a culture of health and well-being for the student community, deliver equitable high quality innovative services, incorporate inclusive approaches, and celebrate diversity, with the goal of adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors contributing to the academic success and personal development of all students.

The UC San Diego SHW cluster, which reports through UC San Diego Health System, plays a leadership role in creating a strong and active wellness culture that enables all students to flourish in body, mind and spirit. This includes promotion and the expansion/development of a student health and well-being center, and the transformation of existing departments, under the oversight of the executive director, into a cohesive, trans-disciplinary source of integrated wellness services. The SHW cluster includes the departments of Student Health Services (SHS), Health Promotion Services (HPS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and SHW Administration (ADM), Strategic Planning, Innovation and Research (SPIR) and Assessments and Analytics (SHAA).

SHS provides primary medical care, including urgent care and support services such as laboratory, pharmacy, and x-ray to UC San Diego undergraduate, graduate and professional students and affiliates. SHS staff consists of a diverse team of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists, x-ray technologists, clinical laboratory scientists, medical lab assistants, optometrists, medical assistants, health educators, administrative and other healthcare professionals. SHS provides integrated clinical services to address the medical needs of the individual students, as well as to foster the well-being of the students as a whole person. In addition, SHS oversees the public health needs of the campus community. SHS is accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care and is fully committed to self examination, peer review and quality control through the utilization of data, outcome and patient experience measurements.

Under general supervision, incumbent will be responsible and accountable for key activities associated with the UCSD Student Health Services Optometry Clinic. Incumbent will assist the Optometrist Supervisor, Lead Technician/Optician, Optometrists, and other SHS Staff with daily business and clinic operations. Incumbent will provide specialized clinical or technical assistance in optical dispensary, conduct preliminary vision tests, record preliminary vision test results in Epic electronic medical records, provide contact lens training to first time contact lens wearers on how to safely insert, remove, handle, clean, and care for contact lenses, and clean, maintain, and arrange equipment. Incumbent will help submit, process, receive, and dispense contact lens orders. Incumbent will foster patient relations and provide customer service, including greeting patients and guests, answering questions and assisting patients in choosing frames and optical supplies. Incumbent will verify patient insurance, update patient demographics, schedule appointments, document patient histories, coordinate referrals, maintain optical inventory, manage billing and insurance claims, keep supplies stocked, and other tasks, as needed.

MINIMMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated knowledge of Optometry clinical operations including the use, care and handling of equipment.
  Training and/or equivalent experience in optometry operations required.


• Experience using electronic medical record (preferably Epic) and computerized scheduling systems to retrieve information, enter data, and schedule appointments for patients. Strong computer proficiency in all relevant hardware and software.


• Ability to take spectacle and contact lens prescriptions, document in patient records, and administer the following preliminary vision tests: visual acuity, tonometry, autorefractometry, autokeratometry, perimetry, lensometry, color vision, depth perception and spectacle measurement.


• Skill in helping patients choose frames and lenses as well as helping fit frames and lenses and explaining the care and use of eyewear to them.


• Ability to administer contact lens training for first time contact lens wearers by instructing and educating patients on how to safely insert, remove, handle, clean, and care for contact lenses.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate detailed and complicated information.


• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills to work effectively with diverse individuals in person and by phone in a pleasant, professional and courteous manner. Demonstrated skill to resolve conflict and handle confrontation with tact and professionalism.


• Ability to process credit card transactions, run settlement reports for end of day closing procedures, reconcile receipts, and ensure that payments are entered into the electronic medical record.


• Strong attention to detail including ability to keep accurate detailed records.


• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills to work under pressure calmly and efficiently, coping with variable workloads, and keeping track of many diverse activities, requests and directions simultaneously.


• Ability to deliver and practice suggestive selling to customers and promote sales, demonstrating knowledge of products and services. Demonstrated knowledge of basic business, sales and marketing strategies.


• Ability to establish purchase orders and make revisions, procure goods and services, and ensure that purchases comply with university procedures.


• Ability to at all times, demonstrate the characteristics of professionalism in attire, attitude, conversation, behavior and attentiveness to others; uphold the UCSD Principles of Community and promote a positive and collaborative team environment. Ability to adhere to and practice the mandatory University Core Values & Safety Standards of performance.


• Ability to coordinate assignments, prioritize responsibilities and foster a professional, positive, team work environment.


• Ability to use discretion, maintain utmost confidentiality and comply with all requirements in use of computer systems and access to any and all patient, student, employee and University data, in electronic and hard copy formats, in compliance with University, state and federal guidelines, including, but not limited to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).


• Ability to assist with disbursement activities and requests.


• Demonstrated ability to actively foster a positive, welcoming climate, and value, include and support all in the UC San Diego community.


• Demonstrated commitment and ability to acknowledge, advocate and support the efforts to dismantle structural racism and divisive biases based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs.


• Electronic medical records training especially EPIC is provided and required upon hire for this position.


• As appropriate, submit incident reports into the UCSD SHW Incident Report System, RL Datix or current system in use, to report near-misses, process problems or patient or employee injury events. Attend required trainings and refreshers for use and proper steps to follow.


• Must complete all required training assigned by UCOP, UCSD and SHW/SHS on a timely basis.


• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in optometry assisting and ophthalmic clinical care.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in administering ancillary tests with the Optos retinal camera, OCT Maestro, and ZEISS Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer.

• Customer service experience working as an assistant in an ambulatory clinical setting.


• Knowledge of UCSD and departmental policies, procedures, and tools.


• Demonstrated experience in assisting with spectacles orders, receiving, tracking, and dispensing activities, managing inventory, keeping frames in the optical clean and organized, processing optical returns, exchanges, remakes, and order discrepancies and communicate issues with the appropriate optical laboratory or vendor as directed.


• Experience working with a diverse student population in a college or university health care setting.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.


• Must complete initial mandatory health requirements, and current clear TB test results and flu vaccination. In the absence of immunization records, titer or blood test will be required to determine if other immunizations are needed.


• TB screening is required, following COEM schedule.


• Must be able to work overtime, various hours and locations, based on clinical and/or business needs.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $60,865 - $80,304 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%).

Hourly Equivalent: $29.15 - $38.46

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).