Ophthalmic Assistant

About the Role

Join our ophthalmology team to support our mission of delivering compassionate, high-quality eye care. The Ophthalmic Assistant plays a vital role in assisting ophthalmologists and optometrists with patient care, diagnostic testing, and clinical procedures, ensuring smooth clinic operations and an excellent patient experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for eye examinations and procedures.
• Perform preliminary vision tests, including visual acuity, tonometry, and refraction.
• Assist with diagnostic imaging such as OCT, fundus photography, and visual field testing.
• Document patient history and maintain accurate medical records in the EMR system.
• Educate patients on eye health, medications, and post-procedure care.
• Maintain and clean ophthalmic instruments and equipment.
• Support physicians during minor procedures and surgeries as needed.
• Initiate documentation of the patient's chief complaint, history of present illness, review of systems, and all pertinent ocular findings.
• Perform testing to include visual acuity measurement, color vision testing, lensometry, keratometry, testing pupil function, tonometry, automated perimetry, evaluation of EOMs (Extra-Ocular Muscle), confrontation visual field testing, and other patient services as requested by the provider.
• May act as a scribe by documenting (on behalf of the provider) all clinically relevant interaction and dialogue during the course of the patient visit, including history and exam, entering diagnoses, orders (medications, labs, imaging, consults, etc.), E&M (Evaluation & Management), follow up and patient instructions.
• Provide patient education under direction of eye care provider.
• Assist with minor surgery procedures and laser treatments in the office, including application and removal of dressings as directed.
• Inventory and maintain surgical instruments in accordance with system and department standards.
• Screen patients and call for emergency/urgent situations; obtain pertinent information for provider.
• Work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1 year of health care experience required.
• COA (Certified Ophthalmic Assistant) certification strongly preferred or willingness to obtain within 18 months of hire.
• Previous experience in ophthalmology or optometry setting is a plus.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider (BLS HCP) required within 90 days of employment.

Physical Requirements

• Constant standing and walking.
• Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication.
• Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry.
• Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
• Occasional lifting/moving patients.
• Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors.
• Occasional driving.

Benefits

• Paid Parental Leave: eligible team members receive one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE).
• Flexible Payment Options: voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday.
• Upfront Tuition Coverage: upfront tuition coverage provided through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members.