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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 25, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Ophthalmic Assistant-Ophthalmology Full time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Glenview, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 22, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Forty hours a week at the Glenview outpatient clinic, Monday to Friday with occasional Saturdays. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states the site, the schedule and the Saturdays.

What would you do

How do you get a good visual field on a patient who cannot hold still or keeps looking around?

What they are checking: The posting names visual fields, and the test is only as good as the patient's cooperation.

How do you take a history from someone who is anxious about their vision?

What they are checking: The posting names interviewing patients and documenting histories.

How do you keep several physicians and sub-specialists moving through a full clinic?

What they are checking: The posting names supporting various physicians and sub-specialists.

About the work

Walk me through a technical workup on a new patient.

What they are checking: The posting names performing technical workups, histories and special testing.

Tell me about performing refractions with retinoscopy.

What they are checking: The posting names refractions with retinoscopy first among the tests.

What are lensometry and keratometry, and when do you use each?

What they are checking: The posting names both specifically.

Walk me through taking a tonometry reading and what could make it wrong.

What they are checking: The posting names tonometry, and a bad pressure reading changes a glaucoma decision.

Tell me about assisting with minor surgery in a clinic.

What they are checking: The posting names assisting the physician with minor surgery.

What makes a good scribe note?

What they are checking: The posting names scribing among the duties.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

**This is a Full Time position at 40 hours per week located at the Glenview Outpatient clinic. Schedule is Monday through Friday with occasional Saturday’s. Required to obtain Certified Ophthalmic Assistant certification through JCAHPO within one year of hire date.** The Ophthalmic Assistant reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Ophthalmic Assistant provides technical and clinical support and patient care for various physicians and sub-specialists by performing various tests to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment and follow up of patients with various ophthalmic health conditions. This role supports physicians as their needs arise and acts as a liaison between patients and physicians by answering questions and providing educational assistance. RESPONSIBILITIES • Interviews patients and documents histories. • Performs technical workups, patient histories and special testing (Refractions w/ retinoscopy, Lensometry, Keratometry, Tonometry, Visual Fields, Amslers, Muscle Testing, Pupil Exams, Topography, OCT, IOL Master / Ascans, Fundus Photos). • Assists the physician with patient care, minor surgery, scribes. • Communicates with patients (follow-up care, surgeries, procedures, changes in schedule, symptoms, surgery scheduling, etc.), returns phone calls (patients, pharmacies). • Maintains and cleans equipment, reports equipment deficiencies to management. • May perform other duties as assigned. Required : • High School diploma or GED equivalent. • Basic Life Support (American Heart Association) certification. • Certified Ophthalmic Assistant certification through JCAHPO (applicants who have obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree are exempt from the COA requirement). • Zero (0) to two (2) years’ experience in a relevant role. Preferred : • Two years related experience (equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered). • Surgical assistance experience. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.