Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology). The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) will function in Surgical Service

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.
• Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician; OR
• Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree; OR
• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• Certification. All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). The COA certification is JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in section A, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-8

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Examples of experience at the GS 7 level include but are not limited to: Performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedure. Responsible for obtaining patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs/symptoms; past 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.
• 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; and
• Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equip

Preferred Experience:

1. Ability to work in high volume and fast-paced outpatient clinic
2. Positive patient and fellow staff interaction
3. Experience with a wide variety of automated ocular diagnostic devices

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: The Incumbent must have dexterity & agility to handle fragile eyeglasses & contact lenses as well as microscopic instruments. The work is at times sedentary; and ambulation between various examination/treatment rooms is also required. The work requires some physical exertion such as lifting and assisting wheelchair patients into chairs positioned in front of the cameras. It is also required that the 4/23/2026 10:17 EDT Page 4 of 6 angiographer be able to operate the cameras with one hand while holding the patients' eyelids open with the other. The incumbent will also frequently spend extended periods standing and bending over in the Eye Clinic. The employee will also need to frequently lift light to moderately heavy cameras, camera accessories, and imaging equipment. The work area is pleasant but at times noisy due to the volume of waiting patients. Occasionally, it Is necessary to deal with disruptive patients. Risk normally associated with an Eye Clinic/hospital/direct patient care are present.

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- 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 prescription and non-prescription medications
- Tests 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, in 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 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, Lenstar 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 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 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
- 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, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Variable based on the needs of the service)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Travel: May require occasional travel to satellite facilities
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 94354-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $58,350