Optometry Assistant Jobs for OPT Students
Optometry Assistant jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in health sciences, biology, or a related field. Most roles involve patient intake, pre-testing, and clinical support under a licensed optometrist, giving you hands-on healthcare experience that counts toward your authorized OPT period.
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We are recruiting for Optometry Assistant's (OA) to join our team in one of our state of the art health centers. Consider joining the team to leave a lasting impact in your local community as our Optometry Assistant as you can look forward to rewarding benefits and a Monday-Friday schedule. Experienced Medical Assistants and/or new Medical Assistant graduates are welcomed!
Our Optometry Assistant's work directly with our Optometrist provider and they strive to go above and beyond, take pride in their ability to listen to our patients, and provide excellent patient care. United Health Centers is looking for someone who can communicate clearly and warmly with a diverse patient population and who has the technical skills to assist providers in their patient’s medical care. If this sounds like you, then you might be our next Optometry Assistant!
Responsibilities
Works closely with the Director of Optometry Operations and other members of the clinic management team to:
- Provide prompt medical support; promote a smooth patient flow; collect and record data accurately; maintain order of exam rooms, equipment and ophthalmic supplies
- Primary tasks are to interview patients and obtain chief compliant, ocular and medical histories, perform auto refraction, automated tonometry, lensometry, and ancillary ocular tests as directed by the Optometrist such as color vision tests (Ishiara or Farnsworth), depth perception, visual fields and retinal photos.
- The optometry OA must also document all findings in the ophthalmic template in the EHR. The OA is also responsible for helping assist patients in the optical area with the fitting, ordering and dispensing of eyeglasses or contact lenses as directed by the Optometrist.
- The OA will maintain optical boards by making sure that glasses are restocked and accounted for in the electronic program. The OA provides or facilitates the provision of information needed by both patients and clinicians.
- Provide basic education and information to patients, making sure patients' questions are answered and anxieties alleviated and interfaces with community-oriented activities and staff
- Achieve the organizational mission to provide health care access for all the members of the community as well as help make sure patients and families get the care they need when they need it.
- Consistently and openly communicate with supervisor and all staff.
- Work flexible or extended hours when necessary and requested.
- Participate in health center in-services and meeting, listening and respecting others' ideas.
- Abide by Rules of Confidentiality of patient information.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
High School graduate or GED.
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION
- Possess a valid driver's license
- Valid lifesaving certification (CPR, BLS, etc.)
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 1 years of recent experience in a healthcare setting, preferred.
- Optometric Assistant certification or one (1) year recent prior experience in optometry or ophthalmology field, preferred.
SKILLS
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish) but not required.
- Able to quickly build and maintain rapport with patients and providers of differing backgrounds; team player
- Customer-service oriented
- Strong computer skills
- Familiar with adult learning and general training techniques
- Positive professional insight
- Flexibility and dependability
- Demonstrated good problem-solving skills; sound judgment
- Effective leadership/supervisory skills
- Modern office practices and procedures including email
- Intermediate computer skills
- Attention to detail and excellent follow-through on work tasks
- Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Physical Requirements
Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds and push up to 50 pounds (on wheels).
Must be able to hear staff on the phone and those who are served in-person, and speak clearly in order to communicate information to patients and staff.
Must be able to read memos, computer screens, personnel forms and clinical and administrative documents.
Must have high manual dexterity.
Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouch, reach, kneel, twist/turn.
The hourly wage range that UHC reasonably expects to pay for the position upon hire starts at $21 an hour. Our salaries are dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience.
In addition, our comprehensive benefits package for regular status employees includes:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance with low premium cost
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- 401k plan with matching contribution
- Educational Assistance
- Employee discounts and more!
Overview
We are recruiting for Optometry Assistant's (OA) to join our team in one of our state of the art health centers. Consider joining the team to leave a lasting impact in your local community as our Optometry Assistant as you can look forward to rewarding benefits and a Monday-Friday schedule. Experienced Medical Assistants and/or new Medical Assistant graduates are welcomed!
Our Optometry Assistant's work directly with our Optometrist provider and they strive to go above and beyond, take pride in their ability to listen to our patients, and provide excellent patient care. United Health Centers is looking for someone who can communicate clearly and warmly with a diverse patient population and who has the technical skills to assist providers in their patient’s medical care. If this sounds like you, then you might be our next Optometry Assistant!
Responsibilities
Works closely with the Director of Optometry Operations and other members of the clinic management team to:
- Provide prompt medical support; promote a smooth patient flow; collect and record data accurately; maintain order of exam rooms, equipment and ophthalmic supplies
- Primary tasks are to interview patients and obtain chief compliant, ocular and medical histories, perform auto refraction, automated tonometry, lensometry, and ancillary ocular tests as directed by the Optometrist such as color vision tests (Ishiara or Farnsworth), depth perception, visual fields and retinal photos.
- The optometry OA must also document all findings in the ophthalmic template in the EHR. The OA is also responsible for helping assist patients in the optical area with the fitting, ordering and dispensing of eyeglasses or contact lenses as directed by the Optometrist.
- The OA will maintain optical boards by making sure that glasses are restocked and accounted for in the electronic program. The OA provides or facilitates the provision of information needed by both patients and clinicians.
- Provide basic education and information to patients, making sure patients' questions are answered and anxieties alleviated and interfaces with community-oriented activities and staff
- Achieve the organizational mission to provide health care access for all the members of the community as well as help make sure patients and families get the care they need when they need it.
- Consistently and openly communicate with supervisor and all staff.
- Work flexible or extended hours when necessary and requested.
- Participate in health center in-services and meeting, listening and respecting others' ideas.
- Abide by Rules of Confidentiality of patient information.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
High School graduate or GED.
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION
- Possess a valid driver's license
- Valid lifesaving certification (CPR, BLS, etc.)
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 1 years of recent experience in a healthcare setting, preferred.
- Optometric Assistant certification or one (1) year recent prior experience in optometry or ophthalmology field, preferred.
SKILLS
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish) but not required.
- Able to quickly build and maintain rapport with patients and providers of differing backgrounds; team player
- Customer-service oriented
- Strong computer skills
- Familiar with adult learning and general training techniques
- Positive professional insight
- Flexibility and dependability
- Demonstrated good problem-solving skills; sound judgment
- Effective leadership/supervisory skills
- Modern office practices and procedures including email
- Intermediate computer skills
- Attention to detail and excellent follow-through on work tasks
- Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Physical Requirements
Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds and push up to 50 pounds (on wheels).
Must be able to hear staff on the phone and those who are served in-person, and speak clearly in order to communicate information to patients and staff.
Must be able to read memos, computer screens, personnel forms and clinical and administrative documents.
Must have high manual dexterity.
Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouch, reach, kneel, twist/turn.
The hourly wage range that UHC reasonably expects to pay for the position upon hire starts at $21 an hour. Our salaries are dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience.
In addition, our comprehensive benefits package for regular status employees includes:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance with low premium cost
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- 401k plan with matching contribution
- Educational Assistance
- Employee discounts and more!
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an Optometry Assistant
Target independent optometry practices
Private practices are often more flexible about hiring OPT students than large retail chains. They make hiring decisions in-house, which means you can speak directly with the decision-maker about your work authorization without going through a corporate HR process.
Lead with your OPT end date, not your visa status
When reaching out to employers, frame it as availability: tell them you're authorized to work through a specific date. Avoid leading with the word 'visa.' Employers respond better to confident, concrete timelines than to immigration terminology they may not understand.
Highlight clinical pre-testing skills explicitly
OPT students who can perform tonometry, visual acuity testing, or lensometry stand out immediately. List every instrument and procedure you've trained on. Practices want someone who reduces chair time for the optometrist from day one.
Get your CPR and BLS certification before applying
Many optometry offices require or strongly prefer CPR and Basic Life Support certification. Having it before your first interview removes a common hiring objection and signals that you're ready to work in a clinical environment with minimal onboarding.
Ask about STEM OPT extension eligibility early
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field like biology or health informatics, you may qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviewing so you can accurately tell employers how long you're authorized to work.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly optometry employers
Browsing Migrate Mate filters roles by OPT authorization compatibility, saving you the time of applying to practices that won't consider work-authorized candidates. Focus your applications where employers have already indicated openness to sponsorship or OPT hiring.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Optometry Assistant on F-1 OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in a field related to optometry, health sciences, or biology, working as an Optometry Assistant is a valid use of your OPT period. The role must be directly related to your major area of study. Your Designated School Official can confirm that the position qualifies before you accept an offer.
Do Optometry Assistant jobs typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Most small and independent optometry practices do not routinely sponsor H-1B visas because the process involves legal fees and administrative burden that smaller employers often avoid. Larger vision care networks or hospital-affiliated practices are more likely to have HR infrastructure for sponsorship. Use Migrate Mate to identify employers who have shown a history of sponsoring work visas for clinical support roles.
Does an Optometry Assistant role qualify as a STEM OPT job?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself. If you graduated with a degree in biology, neuroscience, health informatics, or another STEM-designated field, your position may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The role must also meet the employer's formal training plan requirements and be reported through your school. Confirm your eligibility with your DSO before applying.
How many hours per week can I work as an Optometry Assistant on OPT?
During your post-completion OPT period, you must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status. There is no maximum hour cap, so full-time employment is permitted and common for clinical roles. If you're in your pre-completion OPT period while still enrolled, you're limited to 20 hours per week during academic terms.
What happens to my OPT if my Optometry Assistant job ends?
You can be unemployed for a maximum of 90 cumulative days during your OPT period without violating your F-1 status. If you lose your position, you need to find a new qualifying role within that window or risk falling out of status. Report any change in employment to your DSO immediately and use Migrate Mate to find a replacement role as quickly as possible.
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