Health Technician (Optometry)

Veterans Health Administration • Savannah, GA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The GS-7 Health Technician (Optometry) provides independent optician services at the Charleston VAMC. This non-supervisory position supports Optometry by performing optical measurements, fitting and verifying prescriptions, repairing and adjusting eyewear, educating patients, and assisting with clinical workflow. The role promotes quality eyewear, efficient clinic operations, Veteran satisfaction, and coordination with the interdisciplinary team.

The technician assists Veterans and caregivers with frame and lens choices, pricing, timelines, and expectations; performs complex measurements and advanced frame adjustments; verifies prescriptions and inspects eyewear for accuracy and applicable standards; and documents measurements, fittings, orders, repairs, dispensing, and patient interactions in CPRS. The position also supports inventory and merchandise control, tracks orders and resolves eyewear issues, triages walk-in concerns, and communicates with Optometrists about prescription issues, adaptation concerns, and lens compatibility. The technician protects patient information and follows HIPAA and VA information-security requirements.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on agency needs. It is not virtual; ad hoc telework may be available as determined by agency policy. The full-performance level is GS-7.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the applicable qualification pathway: one year of health technician or assistant experience in health care; or qualifying education, such as two academic years above high school with at least 12 related semester hours, an associate degree, or an independent study course in an optometry-related technician or assistant field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For GS-7, one year of experience comparable to the next lower level demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the position, or applicable qualifying education/experience provisions.
• Ability to determine a preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of optical status, excluding the patient's final subjective refraction.
• Ability to triage walk-in optical issues and resolve minor concerns independently.
• Ability to perform complex optical measurements using digital or manual instruments.
• Ability to repair and adjust eyewear and dispense it to ensure fit, function, and satisfaction.
• Ability to support Optometry clinical workflow, including pre-exam readiness, imaging preparation, and optical measurements.
• Ability to independently verify prescriptions, reconcile spectacle orders, and resolve discrepancies before fabrication.
• Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education about eye health and/or vision conditions.
• Meet pre-employment screening and appointment conditions, including a background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination; applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet physical and environmental requirements, including heavy lifting over 45 pounds, pushing, reaching above shoulder level, using both hands, walking, kneeling, repeated bending, rapid mental and muscular coordination, basic color discrimination, and working on uneven or slippery surfaces, around moving objects, with hands in water, and both closely with others and alone.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of hands-on experience in optical dispensing or ophthalmic/optical support.
• Strong customer-service skills.
• Experience performing pupillary-distance, segment-height, and other measurements used to fit and dispense eyewear.
• Experience selecting, fitting, adjusting, repairing, and dispensing eyewear.
• Experience verifying ophthalmic prescriptions, inspecting eyewear for accuracy, and identifying discrepancies.

Responsibilities

• Provide courteous, culturally competent assistance to Veterans and caregivers, explaining frame options, lens choices, pricing, timelines, and expectations.
• Perform complex optical measurements, including pupillary distance, segment height, base curve, and prism, using digital or manual instruments.
• Make advanced frame adjustments, including pantoscopic tilt, temple spread, and nose-pad adjustments, to ensure fit, comfort, and safety.
• Document measurements, fittings, verifications, repairs, dispensing, and patient interactions in CPRS in accordance with VHA and Joint Commission standards.
• Independently verify prescriptions, reconcile spectacle orders, and resolve discrepancies before fabrication.
• Ensure eyewear meets ANSI Z80.1 and Z87.1 requirements and conduct final inspections for power, axis, prism, pupillary distance, segment height, and bevel fit.
• Perform eyewear repairs and adjustments and dispense eyewear, ensuring fit, function, and patient satisfaction.
• Maintain inventory organization, cleanliness, and visual displays; support merchandise control, record keeping, and pricing accuracy.
• Educate patients on eyeglass care, cleaning, safe handling, storage, and lens adaptation; troubleshoot adaptation issues.
• Track orders and resolve missing, damaged, or delayed eyewear issues while providing updates to patients.
• Support Optometry clinical workflow, including pre-exam readiness, imaging preparation, and optical measurements.
• Triage walk-in optical issues and resolve minor concerns independently.
• Communicate with Optometrists regarding prescription issues, adaptation concerns, and lens compatibility.
• Protect protected health information under HIPAA and VA Handbook 6500 and ensure secure system use and documentation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or agency needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Child-care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and eligible children, subject to income and monthly limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed