What You'll Do

  • Assist ophthalmologists in diagnostic ophthalmic procedures, such as ultrasonography, fundus photography, and tonometry.
  • Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.
  • Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders.
  • Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.
  • Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.
  • Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.
  • Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results.
  • Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.
  • Refer patients to ophthalmic surgeons or other physicians.
  • Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or patients with disabilities.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.62/5
Science 3.62/5
Writing 3.5/5
Service Orientation 3.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.25/5
Learning Strategies 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Concern for Others, Integrity, Cooperation, Dependability

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Speech Recognition 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Computer Aided Vision Therapy CAVT Computer perceptual processing software Email software Eye Tracking Exercises Enterprises Track with Letters HTS Vision CVS2 HTS Vision HTS2 Computerized Binocular Home Eye Exercise System MAX Systems Max-Gold Medical Clinic Software Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SeeRite Flash and Match Therapeutic orthoptic software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.79/5)
  • Concern for Others (High importance: 4.79/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.68/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.64/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.63/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Certified Orthoptist Clinical Orthoptist (CO) Orthoptist