Skills
70 skills are associated with this occupation.
0 skills selected
Essential knowledge
24 skills
Essential skills / competences
39 skills
Optional knowledge
1 skill
Optional skills / competences
6 skills
Overview
Orthoptist work is about assessing and treating binocular vision, squint, amblyopia, eye movement problems and related functional disorders of the visual system. The role combines eye examinations, treatment exercises, patient counselling and careful follow-up.
In job descriptions, look for references to orthoptic tests, visual acuity, strabismus, prism correction, paediatric eye care, neuro-ophthalmology, patient records and cooperation with ophthalmology or optometry teams.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Orthoptists usually work in eye clinics, hospital departments, paediatric services or specialist practices. The work starts with referrals or screening results, then moves through vision tests, eye movement assessment, binocular vision checks, treatment exercises, patient counselling and written follow-up for ophthalmology or optometry colleagues.
Skills and specializations
Important skills include orthoptic examination, visual acuity testing, strabismus assessment, amblyopia treatment, prism correction advice, patient communication and accurate health records. Some roles focus on children, neuro-ophthalmology, low-vision rehabilitation, contact with schools or support for patients after neurological disease.
Salary context
Salary context normally depends on clinical setting, patient complexity, independent assessment responsibility and whether the role includes specialist tests, teaching, referrals or supervision. Posts with paediatric, neurological or advanced diagnostic work can be different from roles built mainly around routine screening and follow-up.
Career paths
Career paths can move toward senior orthoptic practice, specialist eye clinic work, low-vision rehabilitation, service coordination, teaching, clinical research or wider ophthalmology team leadership. Experience with paediatric cases, complex binocular vision disorders and documented treatment outcomes can support progression.
Good to know
Read adverts for the exact clinical setting and patient group. Check whether the work involves independent assessment, treatment planning, prism correction, paediatric clinics, neuro-ophthalmology, digital records or close handover to ophthalmologists. The title can sit near optometry but the orthoptic treatment focus is distinct.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial occupation context. It is not official labour-market statistics or salary data for this exact occupation.
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Alternative labels
Occupation group
Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians (2267)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/771244bf-b204-4e7f-8b25-ee523ae7b791 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 2267.2 |
| ISCO group | 2267 |
| Concept type | Occupation |