Occupation · SOC 29-1299.02
Orthoptists
Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
55 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionScienceWritingService Orientation
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServicePsychology
Technology & tools
Medical softwareComputer based training softwareElectronic mail softwareEye tracking softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismuEvaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Ocular motility examinations — conduct under direct supervision using standardized protocols in an outpatient ophthalmology clinic.Diagnostic test battery — administer motor testing, visual acuity, and lensometry under the guidance of a supervising orthoptist in a clinical training setting.Patient history — gather structured case histories from patients presenting with strabismus or amblyopia under direct clinical supervision.Retinoscopy and color vision testing — perform basic measurements following established procedural checklists in a supervised clinical rotation.Clinical findings — document test results accurately in electronic medical record software under supervision in a hospital-based eye clinic.Treatment plan rationale — recognize and describe the basis for nonsurgical interventions such as patching and corrective lenses in supervised patient care settings.Patient communication — deliver basic diagnosis explanations to patients and family members using clear language under direction from a senior clinician.Eye tracking software — operate equipment to record and review basic eye movement data under supervision in a diagnostic orthoptic setting.Scientific literature — read and summarize peer-reviewed articles on binocular vision disorders to support evidence-based practice in an academic clinical environment.Pediatric communication techniques — apply foundational age-appropriate interaction strategies to facilitate basic diagnostic testing in a supervised pediatric ophthalmology setting.
developing
Binocular vision disorders — evaluate and diagnose conditions such as heterophoria and convergence insufficiency with reduced oversight in a community eye care clinic.Diagnostic test interpretation — interpret retinoscopy, motility, and sensory fusion test results independently for routine patient presentations in an outpatient orthoptic department.Nonsurgical treatment planning — develop and document initial treatment plans for patients with strabismus or nystagmus following departmental clinical guidelines.Corrective lens and patch prescribing — select and recommend appropriate nonsurgical interventions for amblyopia and convergence disorders in a routine clinical caseload.Patient and family education — provide structured instructions on home-based fusion exercises and stereogram use to patients and caregivers with minimal supervision.Pediatric and disability-adapted testing — apply modified assessment techniques to obtain reliable diagnostic data from children or patients with communication difficulties in a clinical setting.Clinical data analysis — synthesize multi-test findings to formulate differential diagnoses for moderate-complexity visual system disorders in a specialist eye unit.Electronic documentation — maintain thorough and timely patient records using medical software in compliance with clinical governance standards in an NHS or equivalent setting.Interdisciplinary communication — collaborate with ophthalmologists and optometrists by preparing clear written referral summaries and verbal case presentations.Continuing professional development — engage in active learning by attending case conferences and reviewing updated clinical guidelines to refine practice in an orthoptic department.
proficient
Complex ocular motility disorders — independently examine, diagnose, and manage complex presentations of strabismus, nystagmus, and amblyopia across the full patient lifecycle in a specialist clinic.Advanced diagnostic assessment — design and execute comprehensive test protocols including quantitative eye tracking and specialized sensory testing for non-routine or atypical cases.Individualized nonsurgical treatment plans — formulate, monitor, and adapt evidence-based treatment strategies for patients with multifactorial visual disorders without requiring supervisory input.High-complexity patient communication — counsel patients and families on nuanced diagnoses, prognosis, and treatment trade-offs using advanced social perceptiveness and empathy in sensitive clinical encounters.Disability-adapted clinical techniques — develop and validate specialized assessment tools and communication strategies for patients with complex disabilities in a tertiary pediatric eye care setting.Clinical outcomes monitoring — systematically evaluate patient response to interventions using objective measures and adjust treatment plans based on longitudinal data analysis.Surgical liaison and co-management — interpret preoperative and postoperative orthoptic assessments and collaborate directly with surgeons on patient selection and outcome evaluation.Systems-level service evaluation — analyze departmental workflow and patient pathway data to identify gaps and propose evidence-based improvements in orthoptic service delivery.Research translation — critically appraise emerging research and integrate validated findings into autonomous clinical decision-making within a specialist orthoptic practice.Complex case documentation — author detailed clinical reports and medico-legal documents communicating orthoptic findings to multidisciplinary teams, courts, or commissioners.
advanced
Clinical leadership — set strategic direction for an orthoptic department, establishing standards of practice and governance frameworks across a multi-site healthcare organization.Workforce development — design and deliver competency-based training curricula for orthoptic students and junior clinicians, shaping the next generation of practitioners in an academic medical center.Service innovation — lead the development and implementation of novel diagnostic protocols and care pathways for rare visual system disorders at an organizational or national level.Research leadership — initiate, supervise, and publish original clinical research on binocular vision and ocular motility disorders, contributing to the international evidence base.Policy and guideline authorship — represent the profession on national committees to draft and disseminate clinical guidelines and professional standards for orthoptic practice.Interdisciplinary systems design — architect integrated care models linking orthoptics, ophthalmology, neurology, and pediatrics to optimize outcomes for patients with complex visual disorders across a health system.Advanced technology adoption — evaluate and champion the integration of eye tracking, AI-assisted diagnostics, and teleorthoptic platforms into clinical practice at an organizational level.Mentorship and coaching — provide expert mentorship to senior clinicians through structured reflective practice, peer review, and individualized professional development planning.Quality and safety governance — lead institution-wide clinical audit programs, analyze patient safety incidents, and drive continuous improvement in orthoptic care quality.Stakeholder and public engagement — communicate the value of orthoptic services to commissioners, policymakers, and the public through presentations, reports, and media, securing organizational investment and advocacy.
Also known as
3 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Certified OrthoptistClinical Orthoptist (CO)Orthoptist