Ophthalmic Technician (Ophthalmology)
About The Position
The Ophthalmic Technician provides clinical and technical support to physicians in a large, multi-specialty ophthalmology satellite clinic. The position requires multitasking and includes limited administrative support, such as responding to patient and physician messages, assisting with refill requests, and completing and tracking forms and prior authorizations. The employer offers training for candidates pursuing a career as an Ophthalmic Technician and describes a robust training program. No evening or weekend work is required. Clinical work includes gathering patient histories and performing ophthalmic tests and measurements, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual fields, refractions, OCTs, IOL Master and Pentacam measurements, ultrasound scans, keratometry, and fundus photography. The technician also assists with in-office procedures, maintains clinical equipment and supplies, prepares instruments for sterilization, disinfects examination rooms, and follows microbial-control and regulatory practices. Additional work may include supporting clinical research and teaching patients about contact lens handling. Nonclinical duties may include managing clinical in-basket messages, processing refill and prior-authorization requests, supporting appointment triage and front-desk staff, managing medications for intravitreal injections, tracking forms, and suggesting template or schedule changes to improve patient flow. Other duties may be assigned. The position requires maintaining COA certification and CPR certification.
Requirements
- High school diploma or graduation equivalent.
- One year of experience as an Ophthalmic Technician; additional education may substitute for required experience under the JHU equivalency formula.
- Must obtain Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) certification from JCAHPO within 18 months of the start date.
- CPR certification is required.
Responsibilities
- Record accurate patient histories, including chief complaint, ocular history, surgeries, medical conditions, medications, allergies, learning assessment, falls risk, and family history.
- Complete Epic training.
- Assess pupil response to light and check for afferent pupillary defect.
- Measure central visual field using an Amsler Grid.
- Instill eye drops under physicians’ direction.
- Measure and record distance and near visual acuity and intraocular pressure.
- Perform Humphrey visual field testing, OCTs, IOL Master measurements, Pentacam measurements, refractions, color vision and depth perception tests, ocular motility screening, and slit-lamp examinations.
- Perform special testing such as Tangent Field testing, Bright Field Acuity Testing, Potential Acuity Meter testing, and pachymetry.
- Perform ultrasound scans to measure axial eye length, recognize difficult scans, and adjust units as needed.
- Perform keratometry readings and adjust readings when necessary.
- Calculate intraocular lens power manually or by computer using appropriate formulas.
- Take fundus photographs as needed and assist with in-office procedures.
- Perform basic maintenance or repair of clinical equipment.
- Participate in clinical research projects as needed and compile and enter study data.
- Teach patients to insert and remove contact lenses and handle them properly.
- Maintain examination-room supplies, check medication expiration dates, maintain instruments and prepare them for sterilization, and disinfect and maintain examination rooms.
- Practice microbial-control fundamentals and maintain refrigerator logs and sharps containers.
- Follow JCAHO requirements and help ensure clinic compliance with regulations.
- Maintain general medical knowledge of ocular anatomy and physiology, systemic and ocular diseases, and ocular emergencies.
- Maintain required Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) certification.
- Respond to Epic in-basket messages and patient questions and process refill requests.
- Complete prior authorizations for upcoming in-office procedures and medications.
- Support front-desk staff with appointment triage, patient clinical questions, and technician-related concerns.
- Manage and order medications for intravitreal injections.
- Track and process form requests, including MVA, disability, and FMLA forms.
- Provide input on templates and schedules to improve patient flow and physician efficiency.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
