Orthoptists detect, diagnose and treat disorders of the eye and associated eye
movement and vision problems.
Orthoptists often work with ophthalmologists, medical practitioners and other
allied health professionals.
How much can I expect to earn?
Full-time employed Orthoptist earn an average of $1647 per week. The [average
annual salary for this job is $85644 excluding super.]
Personal requirements
interested in people’s health needs
enjoy health sciences
good communication skills.
This job also involves:
Good vision for detail
These jobs require you to be able to see clearly to examine items close-up. It
covers jobs where poor vision e.g. tunnel vision, could make the work place
unsafe or the job difficult to undertake, e.g. draftsperson working with
detailed drawings; checkout operator reading dockets; work requiring good
hand-eye co-ordination for working with precision or semi-precision tools.
Mainly indoor work
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than
three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed
area protected from the weather.
Reading or writing
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may
be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as
letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or
writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and
symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing
skills.
This occupation offers jobs at the following skill levels:
Professional Jobs
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree,
or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study,
such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.
Study requirements
At school, you can study these subject(s) to get a good foundation for this
occupation:
Biology
School subjects that include some aspect of BIOLOGY provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a biology-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Chemistry
School subjects that include some aspects of CHEMISTRY provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a chemistry-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Mathematics
School subjects that include some aspect of MATHEMATICS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a mathematics-related subject is a
pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Physics
School subjects that include some aspect of PHYSICS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a physics-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Duties and tasks of an Orthoptist
Orthoptists may perform the following tasks:
measure and assess vision and prescribe glasses when appropriate
investigate, monitor and assist with treating eye disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration
measure and select intraocular (within the eye) lenses for cataract surgery
detect and manage eye movement disorders, such as strabismus (turned eye) and amblyopia (lazy eye), and their sensory consequences
conduct specialised diagnostic and imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography and topography, to determine the effects and progression of eye disease
assess and provide management strategies for people with neurological disorders
devise strategies for rehabilitating impaired vision and design therapy programmes to maximise an individual’s remaining vision
provide reports on the existence of eye defects to practitioners, therapists and relevant authorities, such as transport authorities
provide educational information to patients, families and members of the community about eye conditions and their effects
assist the community by providing vision screening tests and promoting preventative eye health care.
Specialisations
Orthoptists may specialise in:
ophthalmic eye care, which involves treatment of general eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration
neuro-ophthalmology, which involves the treatment of neurologically based eye disorders caused by stroke and head injury
eye movement disorders and paediatric eye care, which involves the treatment of conditions such as strabismus, amblyopia and double vision
vision rehabilitation, which involves maximising remaining sight in people with low vision using rehabilitation strategies and magnification aids