An orthoptist specializes in eye movement abnormalities and works directly with an ophthalmologist and their patients. People who have a lazy eye or crossed eyes should seek medical help to correct their condition. Orthopaedic surgeons are specially trained to assist people with these conditions.
An orthoptist assists an ophthalmologist performing tests to determine the severity of the abnormality and the patient’s current ability to see. Treatment may be as simple as using eye drops, wearing eyeglasses, or wearing an eye patch, depending on the severity. The patient may need therapy to regain control of his or her eye movement and strengthen his or her eye muscles. The most severe cases necessitate surgery performed an ophthalmologist rather than an orthoptist.
There may be training available for this line of work that focuses on working with a specific age group. An orthoptist, for example, may prefer to work exclusively with pediatric patients who were born with their eye abnormalities, or adults who have suffered head injuries and are blind as a result. An orthoptist must be interested in working with people and their eyes, regardless of their age.
They must be able to work well with others and communicate effectively in order to instill confidence in the patient. Eye injuries and abnormalities put patients in a stressful situation, and a good orthoptist must be able to calm them down, give them hope that things will get better, and give them the confidence to help themselves. Orthopedists use therapy on their patients in the office, but they must also be able to teach them the exercises they need to do at home in order to speed up their recovery. When working with children, they must have a lot of patience because children are generally terrified when someone is in or near their eyes. Not only must you calm the child, but you must also reassure them that everything will be fine.
Orthoptists usually work in an ophthalmologist’s office or a clinic dedicated exclusively to eye care. Depending on the job description and the needs of each individual patient, they may be required to travel from office to office. To work as an orthoptist, you must first go to college and earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. After college, orthoptists must complete two years of training in a program accredited the American Orthoptic Council (AOC), which includes passing a written exam.