A skilled health-care worker who diagnoses and treats people who have fused-vision, eye-muscle, and crossed-eye disorders. Orthoptists work under the supervision of an ophthalmologist to teach patients vision exercises that enable the patient to accurately focus and coordinate the movement of both eyes. They may also be trained in GLAUCOMA and vision-field testing.
Orthoptists must complete a minimum of two years of college or registered nurse’s training in addition to the two years orthoptist academic program offered by hospitals, medical schools, or eye clinics. They may be certified by the American Orthoptic Council, although this is not a requirement for employment in every case.
