Ophthalmic Technician

Job overview

An 6 month fixed term opportunity (Maternity cover) arises for an ophthalmic Technician. St. Paul’s Eye Unit is the largest eyecare provider in Cheshire and Merseyside delivering the full range of specialist ophthalmology services including: accident & emergency, corneal cataract and refractive surgery, diabetic eye care, glaucoma, ocular oncology, medical retinal and vitreo-retinal.  The unit is also actively involved in NHS, academic and commercial research.

The post involves high volume, face to face contact with patients, including those in clinical trials/ academic research studies, to acquire clinical data through a wide range of ocular imaging procedures and other ophthalmic assessments and other supporting tasks, determined either through standard operating procedures / research protocols or ordered specifically for individual patients by clinical staff.  Results are interpreted by clinical staff and inform patient management decisions.

The post holder interacts routinely with:  patients, administrative, clerical, technical and clinical staff within the Trust and other external stakeholders when necessary.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be member of a team of 20 ophthalmic technicians based at the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital and will regularly work directly with eye patients in our busy outpatient clinics. They will operate advanced ophthalmic equipment to collect information which assists in the diagnosis and management of sight threatening eye conditions.  Equipment used includes Heidelberg Spectralis OCT, Optos California, Pentacam Wave, Zeiss HFA and others.

This role provides valuable technician support to our consultant ophthalmologist led clinical staff by obtaining data from a range of scans, imaging techniques and clinical assessments as appropriate to the extensive range of subspecialties which our eye unit covers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL DUTIES

A range of ophthalmic imaging procedures as required including but not limited to:  OCT, Anterior OCT, HRT, optic disc, Colour fundus - high magnification and stereos, Fluorescein Angiography

Ophthalmic procedures / assessments including: Perform visual acuity tests using various types of acuity charts as appropriate, Instil eye drops in accordance with approved protocols for patient safety.  Perform corneal topography / tomography assessments.

Ophthalmic clinical measurements including:  Corneal thickness,  Intra ocular pressures,  Anterior chamber depth,  Visual field testing,  ensuring  data & results generated are securely uploaded to as appropriate to Trust systems, EPR / CRF.

The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.  Any other duties reasonably delegated by the line manager.

For a full list of duties, please refer to the attached job description and person specification