Department of Veterans Affairs

Optometrist-Low Vision - Blind Rehabilitation Service

Biloxi, Mississippi Full time

Optometrist-Low Vision - Blind Rehabilitation Service

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Biloxi, Mississippi

Salary Range: $131000 - $200954 Per Year

Job Summary: This is an Open Continuous Announcement and may be extended beyond the current closing date until the position is filled. Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals, as additional vacancies occur and/or on an as-needed basis during the duration of the announcement. Once a selection is made and offer is accepted the announcement may close pending no additional vacancies.

Major Duties:

  • Biloxi - Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a great place to live and work! You'll find picturesque, white-sand beaches lining the Gulf of Mexico, exciting, fun-filled outdoor activities to include boating, fishing and championship golf courses, taste-tantalizing cuisine, plentiful shopping, and must-see cultural attractions. Mississippi's Gulf Coast also features unlimited stakes gaming, top-name entertainment, and spectacular stage shows you won't want to miss. With a unique combination of attractions that will please everyone, Mississippi's Gulf Coast is undoubtedly "the" place to live and work! VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. 2023 VHA Total Reward$ of a PA, Optometrist, Chiropractor, EFDA VA Career Brochure.pdf 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 Major Duties/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to: Provides routine and specialized eye care to Veterans of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Blind Rehabilitation Service. Works independently within well-defined limits based on the incumbent's professional license, experience, competence, ability, and judgment Provides both inpatient and outpatient Veteran eye care assessments that include comprehensive eye examinations, diagnosis, planning, and eye care as well as consultation, recommendation of low vision aids and issuance of prosthetics items within scope of practice. Performs examination procedures necessary for general ocular examination. Document and manage procedures necessary for rehabilitative management of less common vision defects such as aphakia, pseudophakia, keratoconus, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, aniseikonia, but not to include surgery. Performs procedures necessary for fitting and follow-up care of hard, gas permeable and soft contact lenses; to include the teaching of insertion, removal and care of hard/soft contact lenses. Performs examination procedures necessary for: 1) general ocular exams, 2) diagnosis, management and treatment of conditions of the visual system, including performance of primary eye care procedures rational to the treatment of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid. Performs fluorescein angiographic photography and also A and B scan ultrasound and ocular biometry. Interpretation of testing and specialty imaging to establish diagnosis and assist in management of vision conditions. The incumbent will be part of the interdisciplinary team attending interdisciplinary team meetings and discharge meetings to provide insight on Veterans. Work Schedule: To be determined by supervisor, Chief of Blind Rehabilitation Service.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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/Registration. 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. NOTE: The Approving Official may approve, under unusual circumstances, a waiver of residency or comparable experience.

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 05/29/2026 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 CBST-12925162-26-MW 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: 2026-05-29