Orthoptists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Examines patients for problems with how the eyes move and work together, then diagnoses conditions such as strabismus, amblyopia, and nystagmus. Testing can include visual acuity checks, motor testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision work, followed by reading those results to plan care. Treatment is nonsurgical: corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, plus clear instructions for patients and families. Special test and communication methods are used with children and with patients who have disabilities. Suits people who like careful clinical exams, explaining findings in plain terms, and working through treatment plans without surgery.
Typical education: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$115'210
Median Wage Market Position
$115'210
What you might do
- Examine patients for crossed eyes and tracking problems
- Diagnose problems with how both eyes work together
- Test eyesight, color vision, and eye muscle movement
- Treat lazy eye and crossed eyes without surgery
- Explain diagnoses and treatment plans to families
- Adapt tests for children and patients with disabilities
Skills that matter
- Examining ocular motility and binocular vision
- Measuring acuity with retinoscopy and lensometry
- Interpreting motility and acuity test results
- Nonsurgical plans for strabismus and amblyopia
- Teaching patching, drops, and fusion exercises
- Special techniques for children and disabilities
AI & the future of this role
Binocular vision testing and therapy still depend on skilled observation and in-person patient coaching. Imaging and measurement tools may streamline parts of assessment, but clinical judgment and tailored exercises are likely to remain central.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details