Optometric Assistant

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages technical and administrative optical activities of the Optometry clinic.
• Answers the telephone and refers calls to personnel.
• Answers general questions about the optometry program, e.g. hours of the clinic, procedures for making appointments.
• Greets incoming patients and has patient complete information forms for registration.
• Completes registration with insurance verification and demographics.
• Creates schedules in computer, schedules patient appointments and checks patients in and out of clinic.
• Affords patient transportation arrangements as needed.
• Captures referrals for the Eye Clinic Providers.
• Interviews patients and records health history.
• Performs frame measurements, ensuring optimum cosmetic, physical, and optical spectacle performance.
• Repairs most damaged and/or broken frames.
• Performs basic optical bench work.
• Maintains frames on a current basis in accordance with applicable contracts.
• Prepares prescriptions and lab orders for glasses.
• Verifies spectacle prescriptions utilizing lensometer, lens gauge, and other instruments prior to dispensing glasses to patients.
• Provides technical assistance to Optometrists and Ophthalmologists as requested.
• Performs various preliminary eye evaluations including but limited to visual acuity, Non-Contact Tonometer and Icare Tonometer, as requested by the eye care provider.
• Performs ancillary tests such as visual field, Optical Coherence Tomography, Retinal Photos, etc., as requested by the eye care provider.
• Informs patients about contact lens procedures, care and hygiene, optical and ocular disease conditions, and other relevant instructions.
• Follows Human Resources policies on EEO related matters.
• Orders optical supplies and instruments.
• Contributes to a team effort.
• Performs other job related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Ability to provide appropriate customer service.
• Knowledge of current standard optometric lens and frame characteristics, measurement methods and instruments, and materials in order to select the most appropriate size and type of frame and lens for optimum visual performance.
• Skill in utilizing a variety of tools and repair techniques to accomplish spectacle repairs.
• Knowledge of optical prescription methods and measurement techniques in order to verify and duplicate current prescriptions.
• Knowledge of a variety of optometric instruments and measurement methods such as vision screening instruments, visual acuity measurement methods, visual field testing instruments, and non-contact tonometry.
• Basic knowledge of a variety of optical conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, cataracts, etc., in order to educate patients.
• Thorough knowledge of the Privacy Act of 1974 which mandates the incumbent to maintain confidentiality of all administrative, medical, and personnel records.
• Knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191 (HIPAA).

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have a High School Diploma or General Education Diploma, and One year combination of Optical Dispensing experience and front/back optometric office experience.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements

• Must possess or acquire a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within three months of hire.
• Upon recommendation for hire, a criminal background and a National FBI fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for employment, including a 39-month driving record.
• If required, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles.