Ophthalmic Technician Assistant (Ophthalmology)

Ophthalmic Technician Assistant

With close supervision and instruction, we are seeking an Ophthalmic Technician Assistant who will learn to assist the Ophthalmologist with patient care by performing ophthalmic testing as outlined below.

The Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University has an exciting opportunity for exceptional candidates to train for a career as an Ophthalmic Technician, no experience required. Start your career in Ophthalmology with one of the leading organizations in delivering state-of-the-art eye care, training future healthcare leaders, and conducting cutting-edge research. We have a robust training program that will provide you with a strong foundation to pursue a multitude of career paths beyond Ophthalmic Technician such as Clinic Manager, Ophthalmic Clinic Supervisor, Assistant Administrator, Orthoptist, Optometrist, Marketing, IT, and Research, to name a few. This is also an opportunity for pre-med students to gain clinical experience during their gap year or prior to applying to medical school, as well. No evening or weekend work required.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Obtain and concisely record an accurate patient history
• Chief complaint
• Past ocular history
• Family history
• Systemic illnesses
• Medications
• Allergies and drug reactions
• Social history

• Basic skills and lensometry
• Measure visual acuity at distance and near utilizing test appropriate for age and education, and records accurately.
• Perform pinhole testing when indicated.
• Perform and record contrast sensitivity.
• Perform Ishihara or HRR color vision testing.
• Accurately measure and record current lens power with a lensometer.
• Perform and record exophthalmometry.
• Perform and record Amsler grid.
• Perform and record Schirmer testing.
• Evaluate pupillary reactions, including afferent pupillary defect.
• Estimate anterior chamber depth.
• Able to properly operate common non-automated and automated ophthalmic equipment including, but not limited to: IOL Master, Orb-scan, bright field acuity testing (BAT), potential acuity meter (PAM), autorefractor, corneal pachymetry, Humphrey visual field, Goldmann visual field, OCT, HRT, Lenstar.

• Patient Services
• Apply proper ocular dressings and shields.
• Follow divisional protocols for eye drop instillation, including cycloplegics and topical anesthetics.
• Properly instill eye drops
• Label newly opened bottles with expiration dates.
• Understand the indications / contraindications for use in dilation,
• Measure interpupillary distances, evaluate spectacle fit.
• Properly assist physically or visually disabled patients.
• Adhere to regulations regarding drug samples and drug sample logs.

• Basic Tonometry
• Perform accurate Goldmann applanation tonometry and properly disinfect the tonometer.
• Perform accurate Tono-pen tonometry and properly disinfect and store the tonometer.
• Perform accurate Eye Care tonometry.
• Understand the principals of scleral rigidity and the factors that alter intraocular pressure.

• Instrument Maintenance
• Perform routine instrument maintenance on all ophthalmic equipment.
• Stock examination rooms in assigned area and ensure medication expiration dates are current.
• Disinfect and maintain examination rooms.

• General Medical Knowledge
• Maintain current CPR certification.
• Understand basic ocular anatomy and physiology, systemic diseases, ocular diseases and ocular emergencies.
• Understand and practice the fundamentals of microbial control.
• Must complete currently required JHMI courses, such as:
• Self learning educational packets
• HIPAA regulations
• Conflict of Interest
• Complete Annual Review paperwork in a timely manner.
• Complete training in software such as Epic, POE, TAP, Forum, Oculab, Allscripts
• Assist physician chair side as a scribe

• Possible additional duties and responsibilities
• Surgical assisting with minor outpatient procedures; basic instrument care.
• Perform basic slit lamp evaluation of anterior chamber depth.
• Measure axial length with A-scan biometry.
• Perform protocol refractometry or other testing for clinical trials.
• Instruct patients in contact lens care, insertion and removal.
• Neuro-physiologic testing including electroretinogram (ERG), Multi-focal electroretinogram (MFERG), visual evoked potential (VEP), Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO)
• Other duties that may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent
• Must obtain Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) from Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) within 18 months of start date. CPR certification also required.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.