Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. Health Technician (Ophthalmology) may perform many "direct patient care services" under the supervision of Ophthalmologists.

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Duties

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• 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
• Accurately test 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 swings 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 automated 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 machinesPerforms 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 surgey, 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 representative 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-Friday 8am-4:30pm ( subject to changed based on facility needs)

Telework : Not Avaliable

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 02059-F, 02060-F, 02062-F, 02061-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Auhtorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• Experience and Education
• (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing,medical assistant, or health technician, OR
• (2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly relatedto a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree (transcripts required), OR
• (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education arequalifying (transcripts required). Examples are listed below:
• (a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or
• (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for healthcare technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces (DD-214 required);
• Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study coursein Ophthalmic Medical Assisting (transcripts required).
• Certification . All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) withthe Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). The COA certificationis JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).

Exception- 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). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.

• English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient inspoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d).

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 Determinations :

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-5 (Entry Level)

(a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-6 (Developmental Level 1)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above,the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment;

2. Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients inorder to develop an accurate medical record;

3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment

4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology;

2. Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment;

3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing;

4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting;

5. Ability to provide eye care patient education.

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation;

2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens;

3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting;

4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology;

5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye;

6. Knowledge of optics;

7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.