The Specialty Care Service is seeking a full-time Health Technician (Optometry) for the VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa Alabama.

Duties

The Optometry Technician occupation provides clinical services that address a vast array of problems affecting the ocular health and function of a diverse patient population. The work requires the application of knowledge of a variety optometric equipment, skills in preparing patients before an examination by gathering medical history information, explaining the exam process and administering tests to determine the visual capabilities of a patient. The duties may include but are not limited to: Assessing the physical and mental status of patients independently and obtaining a complete history. - Determining preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction. - Understanding of common diagnoses relevant to optometry and medical terminology sufficient to abstract information from medical records, which is pertinent to eye examination. - Triaging and managing eyeglasses issues (i.e., measurement of vertex distance, based curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.). - Performing accurate assessments of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near). - Assisting the eye care provider with ophthalmic procedures, as needed. - Providing advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. - Measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated). - Obtaining accurate potential acuity meter, laser interferometry, contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements. - Evaluating pupillary light responses and measuring pupil size. - Determining the presence or absence of fusion and performing stereoacuity measurements. - Administering eye drops, changing eye dressing, instilling eye drops such as topical anesthetics, mydriatics, and cycloplegics under the supervision of an eye care provider. - Instilling eye ointments of various types, and administering other medications as directed, and transmitting instructions from optometrist to patient on home care. - Performing basic tonometry (i.e., non-contact, Goldmann, Tono-Pen) and estimating the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope. - Reading basic spectacle prescriptions properly using an automated or manual lensometer. - Obtaining and recording accurate autorefractometry and keratometry measurements for patient records. - Performing confrontation and standard automated visual field and Amsler grid testing. - Administering and scoring basic color vision tests (i.e., pseudoisochromatic plates, Farnsworth D-15). - Measuring and recording corneal thickness by pachymetry adeptly. - Performing advanced corneal measurements, exophthalmometry, tear testing and ocular imaging (i.e., stereo fundus, basic slit lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular lens master measurements, ocular ultrasonography, posterior segment optical tomography, fundus autofluorescence and/or ocular angiography). - Providing patient education in regard to care and use of contact lens in order to assist in their visual rehabilitation following fitting. - Ordering appropriate lens by the instruction of the staff optometrists and residents. - Performing minor repairs and adjustments to frames and ordering appropriate lens types and frames. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS 50672 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency. Health Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 are listed below: (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. 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: GS-7 Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled, AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities as follows: Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction. Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.). Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near). Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures. Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears. (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. References: VA Handbook 5005/142 Part II Appendix G68 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Work may involve frequent bending, stooping, stretching, etc., as well as repositioning patients. Manual dexterity in handling instruments is required.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center 3701 Loop Road East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 US
• Name: Kara Wanner
• Email: [email protected]