Ophthalmology Technician - South at Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital in Austin, Texas

Job Description:

Company Conformance Statement

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to conform to the following:

• Perform quality work within the scope of the mission and purpose statement of CTVSH. Work with personal accountability and exceptional morale.


• Interact professionally and with integrity and compassion with coworkers, clients, and patients in accordance with this organization.


• Work effectively and independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees.


• Commit to providing excellent high-quality care of patients and clients.

Position Purpose

The Ophthalmology Technician plays an integral role in the advanced veterinary care provided by Central Texas Veterinary Eye Care. This role goes hand in hand with our purpose statement of enhancing the quality of life for our patients. The objective of this position is to plan, coordinate and perform a variety of duties concerned with the animals’ health, ocular presentation, and client education. These objectives support the Central Texas Veterinary Eye Care, PA to assure quality of patient care and promoting greater efficiency by relieving veterinarians of technical work and administrative detail.

Responsibilities and Duties:

All duties are performed under the supervision and direction of a licensed veterinarian as specified in the Texas Administrative Code of the Texas Veterinary Medical Board.

• Setting up the exam rooms and keeping them clean and stocked before and after each exam.


• Restrain animals for veterinarian and/or other technicians for exams, procedures, and treatments.


• Prepare prescriptions as ordered by the Doctor with the appropriate container, labeling, directions, and warnings. Maintain drug control logs and call in prescriptions to outside pharmacies.


• Make sure all prescribed medications are checked by the doctor prior to leaving the hospital.


• Discharge patients and explain discharge instructions for medical management, post-op care, meds, e-collar, etc. with the client and make sure they understand instructions.


• Perform laboratory procedures (CBC, Chem, PCV, TS, cytology slide staining) and be able to prepare specimen for shipping to an outside laboratory for evaluation.


• Determine and record temperature, pulse, respiration of patients and treat and/or medicate hospitalized patients, including but not limited to administering intravenous, intramuscular, and/or subcutaneous injections as well as administering various ophthalmic medications without causing undue trauma and discomfort to the patient.


• Perform venipuncture and place intravenous catheters.


• Draw up all anesthetic medications, checking the dosage and drug to be administered prior to administering the drug based on instructions from the veterinarian.


• Set up anesthetic machine in anesthesia prep area as well as within the surgical suite


• Prepare patients for surgery: place IV catheter, induce anesthesia, endotracheal tube intubation with knowledge of proper tube size and placement; clip, clean, and scrub area to be operated on. Lubricate eye or eyes once under anesthesia.


• Monitor anesthesia, patients recovering post-operatively, and vital signs including temperature, pulse, and respiration, SpO2, CO2, blood pressure, and ECG.


• Contact clients with pre-operative instructions such as drop off times and when to withhold food prior to any surgical procedure. Be available for questions and answer any questions possible unless the question is specifically directed for the doctor.


• Set up OR and prepare instruments and equipment for anesthesia and surgical procedures. Clean up OR after procedures. Clean, wrap and/or pack, and sterilize all surgery instrument packs and individual instruments.


• Move microscope and phaco unit to storage position and cover


• Knowledge of how the phaco unit works


• Knowledge of names and locations of all instruments used in surgery and other procedures.


• Contact clients when patient is recovering from surgery for updates and status.


• Contact client within at least 1 week of the patient being examined to check on current status of the patient.


• Obtain treatment instructions from the doctor and fill out the treatment sheets accordingly.


• Working knowledge of ventilator and ventilation procedures.


• Demonstrate the ability to set up IV fluids and operate fluids pump as well as set up and operate syringe pump.


• Maintain an inventory by ordering appropriate supplies (suture, surgical instruments, etc) and medications.


• Knowledge of how to create estimates for surgery and other procedures for clients and enter charges on an invoice.


• Set up and perform ERG.


• Check phone messages at the least every hour.


• Setup VETPACS for radiographs

Special requirements

• Knowledge of reconstituting injectable drugs. Be able to calculate mLs if dose is given in mgs and be able to calculate drug dose if given in mg/kgs. (Be able to convert lbs to kgs)


• Obtain history/clinical complaint and obtain minimum ophthalmic database (Schirmer tear test, tonometry, and fluorescein staining) prior to complete ophthalmic examination by the veterinarian.


• Overtime and Saturdays

Physical Effort

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the primary functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to bend, stand, stoop, walk, talk and listen; may require extended periods of time on feet. Use hands to manipulate, handle, feel or reach with hands and arms. The employee is often required to lift and carry animals or materials up to 40 pounds.

Work Environment

• Radiation exposure (x-ray, CT scan)


• Hazards associated with infected animals, controlled substances, and possible exposure to contagious diseases.


• Possible exposure to gas sterilization using ethylene oxide


• Exposure to unpleasant odors and noises.


• Exposure to aggressive patients, bites, scratches, and animal waste.


• Exposure to anesthetic wastes

Qualifications - Essential

High School Diploma or equivalent required. Veterinary technician experience required. Basic math and computer skills, customer service and communication skills are a must. Special interest in Ophthalmology preferred but not required.