Summary

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. The Full Performance Health Technician (Ophthalmology) may perform many "direct patient care services" under the supervision of Ophthalmologists. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 28 - 2025.

Qualifications

GS-8 (Full Performance Level):Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting; Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology; Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye; Knowledge of optics; Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is 8. Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019 for physical requirements.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities will include: Technical and Clinical Duties: 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 prescriptions and non-prescription medications
• Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near with and without correction or with and without a pinhole
• Measures eyeglass prescriptions 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 basis 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 intraocular lens calculation using an IOL Master or Lens Star 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 - for example - revision of wounds - biopsies of eyelid lesions - cultures of conjunctiva - or cornea
• reformation of anterior chamber - evacuation of hypheina - 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
• Designated Drug-Testing Position: 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
• Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm - Monday - Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#:Health Technician Ophthalmology /01790-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized