Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 31 2026.

The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications is October 20 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals until the position is filled.

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. At the full performance level the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard but complex diagnostic procedures. The following clinical duties and responsibilities are expected but 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.
• Accurately 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 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 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 topography to determine corneal curvature.
• Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master 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 through Friday - 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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: You must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).

English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Education/or Experience:

• 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 associates degree in a health care related degree. OR;
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
  • Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school. OR;
  • Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians hospital corpsmen medical service specialists or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. OR;
  • Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.

NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts.

Foreign Education: To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Select the option that best describes your education and/or experience requirement:

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 JCAHPOs entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).

NOTE: All certified applicants must provide proof of certification/ JCAHPO ID Number.

Grandfathering Provision: 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 above applicants must meet the following grade requirements.

Health Technician- Ophthalmology GS-8 (Full Performance Level):

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate 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 equipment.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements/Work Conditions: This position requires to moderately lift and carry 15 to 44 pounds reach above shoulders to use fingers and both eyes have depth perception distinguish different shades of color have the ability to hear (hearing aids are permitted) and the ability to access all patient care areas as required. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time frequent bending reaching stooping and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus lifting and repositioning patients (60 to 200 plus pounds) and pushing or pulling heavy objects and/or equipment. This position also requires to be prepared to assist patients that need cardiac resuscitation and to help patients that code faint or fall.