Job Title

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. The Full Performance Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures, assists during clinic-based surgical procedures, educates patients and legal representatives, assists with the education of medical students and residents. * THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT POSITION. * THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT POSITION. This Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures. Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: * Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments. * Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical history both ocular and general; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non prescription medications. * Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with and without a pinhole. * Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder. * Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation. Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect. * Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter. * Instills eye medications (drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, cycloplegic drops, or antibiotics). * Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry. * Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or topography to determine corneal curvature. * Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device. * Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. * Performs external photographs and fundus photography. * Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve. * Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions. * Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra vitreous injections, and laser surgical procedures. * Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions. * Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations. * Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; intermittent. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21Y92-A.