Job Summary

The Ophthalmic Health Technician provides clinical support in a wide variety of activities in the ambulatory care area of the Medical Center under the supervision of licensed health professionals. The incumbent will be accountable to the Supervisory Health Technician. The incumbent will possess necessary skills in supportive tasks/tests/procedures to meet patient care and program needs specific to the eye clinic.

Job Description

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: 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 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 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. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions. Knowledge of advanced triage of patients depending upon level of urgency or optometry needs. Knowledge of complex, non-standard treatment and/or complex examinations and techniques. Knowledge of ocular pharmacology and systemic medications with ocular side effects. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.