Ophthalmic Clinical Officer (OCO)

Role Overview

This post delivers frontline eye care at LSEH, carrying a caseload of outpatients from first assessment through diagnosis, treatment and review, while also supporting ophthalmologists in theatre and taking clinical services out into the community through screening camps. The person in this seat is frequently the first — and sometimes the only — clinician a patient with preventable or treatable vision loss will see, so the quality of their examination, prescribing and referral decisions has a direct bearing on how much sight is saved. Reporting to the Head of Clinical Services / Ophthalmologist, the role sits inside a multidisciplinary group that includes optometrists, nurses, theatre staff, medical records and community health volunteers, with regular collaboration with referral facilities and outreach partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Examine and assess patients presenting with ocular complaints in the outpatient clinic, reach a working diagnosis and start management for the common eye conditions seen in this setting.
• Prescribe medication and basic optical corrections within the agreed scope of practice, adjusting treatment where the clinical picture changes.
• Support ophthalmologists in the operating theatre — preparing patients for surgery, assisting during procedures and upholding aseptic technique and theatre protocols throughout.
• Deliver pre-operative preparation and post-operative care, including scheduled reviews that maintain continuity for patients moving between clinic and theatre.
• Counsel patients on their condition, treatment adherence and preventive eye health, and take part in health promotion activity during clinic sessions and outreach events.
• Identify patients who need specialist ophthalmologist review or higher-level care, and complete timely, well-documented referrals that the receiving facility can act on.
• Join community outreach eye camps and screening programmes, providing diagnosis, treatment and referral on site and then following those patients through to hospital-based care.
• Keep accurate clinical records of every consultation, treatment and procedure, contribute to clinical data collection and reporting, and work strictly within SOPs, SafeCare standards, Infection Prevention & Control and OSH requirements while protecting patient confidentiality.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma or Higher Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery.
• Higher Diploma in Ophthalmic Clinical Services (ophthalmic clinical officer training).
• Valid registration and a current practising licence with the relevant regulatory body.
• Demonstrated clinical experience, including prior practice in eye care.
• Added advantage: experience in a high-volume eye care facility, involvement in outreach eye programmes, or training in quality improvement and SafeCare standards.
• Clinical skills: confident ocular assessment and diagnosis, and the ability to carry out basic ophthalmic procedures.
• Communication: clear patient counselling and the ability to explain treatment plans in terms patients can act on.
• Working style: comfortable in a team-based clinical environment, meticulous about documentation accuracy, and competent with electronic medical records and standard office software.

Performance is reviewed against monthly patient volumes, diagnostic and treatment accuracy, the appropriateness and turnaround time of referrals, follow-up compliance, participation in outreach activities, documentation completeness, and adherence to SOPs and IPC standards.

What We Offer / Why Join

• A role that spans three distinct settings — outpatient clinic, operating theatre and community outreach — rather than being confined to a single station.
• The chance to contribute directly to widening access to quality eye care, including for patients reached through community screening programmes who would otherwise go undiagnosed.
• Close working relationships with ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, theatre and outreach teams, with a defined reporting line to the Head of Clinical Services / Ophthalmologist.
• Clear expectations and measurable indicators, so you can see the impact of your clinical decisions on patient outcomes and follow-up rates.