Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. The 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.
Duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to: Check and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments.
Obtain 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. Measure eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder. Perform pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation. Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect.
Perform basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter. Must be competent at distance and near refractions and complex refractions. Instill eye medications (drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, cycloplegic drops , or antibiotics). Measure intraocular pressure with standard techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry.
Perform pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature. Perform intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device. Perform automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Perform external photographs and fundus photography. Perform optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve.
Perform patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions. Assist 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.
Educate patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions. Assist in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations. Ensure 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.
Able to work independently to do basic exam- including refraction, tonometry and non mydriatic photos. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
orienfro.chestnut@va.gov · 561-422-1381
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $59515 – $77366/yr.
Applications close on 2026-11-02.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-23 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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