Ophthalmic Technician (Ophthalmology)

Johns Hopkins University•Baltimore, MD

19h•$20 - $36•Onsite

About The Position

The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University is seeking an Ophthalmic Technician to provide clinical support to physicians, working with faculty, the Clinic Manager, and the Clinic Supervisor. The role also includes limited administrative support, including responding to patient and physician messages and helping with refill requests, forms, and prior authorizations. The position offers a training program and opportunities to pursue other career paths in eye care, healthcare administration, research, and related areas. No evening or weekend work is required. Clinical work includes gathering patient histories and performing ophthalmic tests and measurements, such as visual acuity, pupil response, visual fields, intraocular pressure, refractions, OCTs, IOL Master and Pentacam measurements, keratometry, ultrasound scans, and fundus photography. The technician assists with office procedures, maintains and sterilizes instruments and equipment, supports clinical studies, and teaches patients about contact lens use. The role also includes maintaining exam rooms and supplies, checking medication expiration dates, following infection-control practices, and complying with applicable clinic regulations. Administrative duties may include managing clinical in-basket messages, processing medication refills and prior authorizations, assisting with appointment triage and patient questions, tracking forms, managing medications for intravitreal injections, and providing input on schedules and templates to support patient flow and physician efficiency. The technician must maintain general knowledge of ocular anatomy, physiology, diseases, emergencies, and systemic diseases, and maintain required ophthalmic technician certification. The position is based at the School of Medicine Campus and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The posted starting salary range is $20.25–$36.25 per hour, with a targeted range of $23.22–$34.02 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Requirements

High school diploma or graduation equivalent.
One year of experience as an Ophthalmic Technician; additional education may substitute for required experience as permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Obtain Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) certification from JCAHPO within 18 months of the start date.
CPR certification required.

Responsibilities

Record patient histories, including chief complaint, ocular history, past surgeries, medical conditions, medications, allergies, learning assessment, falls risk, and family history.
Perform ophthalmic examinations and tests, including pupil-response checks, Amsler Grid testing, visual acuity measurements, intraocular pressure measurements, Humphrey visual field testing, OCTs, IOL Master and Pentacam measurements, refractions, color vision and stereopsis testing, ocular motility screening, slit-lamp examinations, and special testing.
Perform ultrasound scans to measure eye axial length, recognize difficult scans, and adjust equipment as needed.
Perform keratometry readings and calculate intraocular lens power using appropriate formulas or computer programs.
Take fundus photographs as needed and assist with in-office procedures.
Instill eye drops under physician direction and teach patients proper contact lens insertion, removal, and handling.
Perform basic clinical equipment maintenance or repairs; maintain exam room supplies; monitor medication expiration dates; maintain and sterilize instruments; and disinfect and maintain examination rooms.
Follow microbial-control practices, maintain refrigerator logs and sharps containers, and ensure clinic practices comply with JCAHO requirements.
Compile and enter clinical study data and potentially participate in other clinical research projects.
Respond to clinical in-basket messages and patient questions; process refill requests and prior authorizations for procedures and medications.
Support front desk staff with appointment triage, patient clinical questions, and technician-related concerns.
Manage and order medications for intravitreal injections and track and process forms requests, such as MVA, disability, and FMLA forms.
Provide input on templates and schedules to support patient flow and physician efficiency.
Maintain general medical knowledge of ocular anatomy and physiology, systemic and ocular diseases, and ocular emergencies.
Maintain required COA ophthalmic technician certification and perform other duties as assigned.