Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The optometrist provides diagnosis, treatment, and management of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases; provision of refractions for eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglasses, medically necessary contact lenses, as well as low-vision and brain injury vision rehabilitation services. This position provides support of the day-to-day activities of the Eye Clinic. Incumbent will provide care as delineated in the clinical privilege list for Optometrists. The clinician will conduct primary ocular health examinations including dilated eye exams for diabetic eye care, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other related conditions prevalent in a hospital based eye clinic. The clinician must be adept at managing these conditions with appropriate therapeutic intervention and/or referral protocols. Primary eye and vision care services consist of: prescribing and ordering eyeglasses, ordering diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies; preparing referrals for diagnosis, treatment, and management of systemic and ocular conditions revealed through optometric examination; patient and family health education.

Components of primary optometric eye and vision care include:

• emergency care (evaluating/managing/triaging emergent, not-surgical eye conditions);
• problem-oriented care (managing patients referred with complaints of typical routine disorders);
• preventive health services (performing mandated examinations such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma screenings).
• Clinical procedures employed include: medical and ocular history; visual acuity measurement; pupillary function testing; color vision testing; extraocular muscle function and binocularity testing; refractive and accommodative testing; external examination of the eye and adnexal structures; biomicroscopic evaluation of the ocular adnexa, anterior, and/or posterior segments of the eye, including gonioscopic and fundus lens evaluation; ophthalmoscopic, tonometric, and perimetric evaluations.
• Considers age of the patient when performing health care as it relates to functional capacity/limitations, ability to understand and follow directions, provide objective self assessment of past medical condition and treatment appropriate to the overall treatment goals and plans.
• Enter accurate, complete, timely progress notes for each episode of care into the patient's electronic record.
• Demonstrates knowledge and maintains standards in the use of reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment(RME).
• Responsible for the proper use, maintenance, and calibration of specialized equipment used in the assessment and care of patients.
• Adhere to safety, health, and infection control standards, regulations and work practices, as well as ergonomic standards. Report unsafe conditions to supervisor and/or appropriate officials.
• Assist in orientation of new staff and will provide patient and family education, including informed consent.
• Assist with teaching of medical students who rotate through the Oklahoma City VA HCS.
• Other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Optometrist Basic Requirements

Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Licensure and Registration. Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.

Residency Training or Comparable Experience. Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below:

(1) Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed.

OR

(2) Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.

Preferred Experience: 1 year post-graduate Optometry Resident Preferred but not required

Grade Determinations:

Staff Optometrist. None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must possess the experience to perform general optometry duties, including clinical oversight of trainees as needed, and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision.

Attending Optometrist. An Attending Optometrist teaches and supervises students, residents, and, or fellows in the delivery of optometric care to Veterans. The Attending Optometrist accepts full responsibility for adherence to the current care standards of directly assigned patients and for those assigned under the care of the supervised trainee(s). An Attending Optometrist may also serve as a Student Coordinator overseeing the clinical care, and facilitating the coordination of scheduling, periodic reviews, and didactic component for the students. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, and possessing privileges to perform all procedures being supervised, Attending Optometrists must demonstrate the following:
(1) Board Certification: Attending Optometrists must be board certified by The American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry (ABCMO) or The American Board of Optometry (ABO); and
(2) Meets one of the following criteria:
(a) Faculty appointment(s) at a school or college of optometry, medicine, or other health care profession; or
(b) Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry (AAO).

Distinguished Optometrist. A Distinguished Optometrist is recognized for scientific, academic, and administrative expertise and would typically been trusted with a variety of key responsibilities beyond those of other Optometrist assignments. These duties could involve leadership, mentorship, research, clinical consultation, and, or influence the advancement of the profession. The Distinguished Optometrist may play a key role in shaping policy, including the development of standards of practice, clinical guidelines, or ethical regulations. This Optometrist is capable of providing expert advice and recommendations on clinical practices, procedures, and protocols. The Distinguished Optometrist will provide continuing education and promote high standards of knowledge and practice in optometry. In addition to meeting the basic requirements of an Attending Optometrist, the individual must meet at least two of the following:
(1) Led or contributed to the advancement of the field through publications or clinical studies;
(2) Published or presented at national or international optometric conferences;
(3) Worked with government agencies, professional organizations, or regulatory bodies to advocate for the profession, addressing issues such as scope of practice or public health initiatives;
(4) Served in a VA leadership/manager position with responsibility for the planning, coordination, and operation of a multi-faceted program that may have included clinical research, training, and, or other specialty service;
(5) Possess post-residency fellowship training, advanced professional degree(s), or exceptional professional distinction(s);
(6) Administrative or leadership experience at the state, regional, or national levels.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.