Optometrist

Optometrist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Lawton, Oklahoma

Salary Range: $215000 - $315000 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy & submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major Duties:

• 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. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Eligible for highly qualified candidates Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized. Learn more. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

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. 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. Preferred Experience: Completion of an Optometry Residency Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting of 45 pounds and more; moderate carrying of15-44 pounds; reaching above shoulders, use of fingers, both hands required, walking and standing for minimum of 8 hours with repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, specific requirement (20/20 each eye far vision), both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), pass whisper test, pass amsler grid each eye, complete Ocular Hx, Don/Doff PPE.

How to Apply: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. To apply for this position online, complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/05/2026 to receive consideration. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing date indicated if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing date click here and include the CBSU-12946628-26-HMD in the Notes field. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-05