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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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31303.04 – Orthoptists

Orthoptists diagnose and treat binocular disorders.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Orthoptist

Core competencies

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving to analyze complex patient symptoms, interpret diagnostic tests accurately and make informed decisions to develop treatment plans
  • Social Perceptiveness to develop rapport with patients, address concerns sensitively and educate patients about treatment plans
  • Categorization Flexibility to tailor treatment plans based on patient symptoms, health histories, insurance coverage and availability of nonsurgical and surgical interventions
  • Pattern Identification and Inductive Reasoning to identify recurring issues that indicate defective binocular vision and abnormal eye movements and develop reasonable diagnoses for patients
  • Attention to Detail to precisely operate eye-testing equipment for the purpose of measuring visual acuity, eye-motor movement and focusing ability of eyes, separately and jointly
  • Knowledge in Physical Health to understand how systemic health conditions affect vision and treatment plans to ensure patient assessment and collaboration with other healthcare professionals for effective care

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Work alongside ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat eye disorders by performing specialized eye tests to measure and assess defective binocular vision or abnormal eye movement in patients
  • Prescribe treatment such as eye exercises or patching regimens.

Additional information

  • There is no mobility between these occupations without further training.
  • Orthoptists may also be trained as ophthalmic technicians or technologists.
  • Orthoptists often work as part of a medical team which includes ophthalmologists, opticians and other ophthalmic medical personnel.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • General practitioners and family physicians (31102)
  • Managers in health care (30010)
  • Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (31209)
  • Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

31 – Professional occupations in health

Sub-major group

313 – Nursing and allied health professionals

Minor group

3130 – Nursing and allied health professionals

Unit group

31303 – Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals

Occupational profile

31303.04 – Orthoptists

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.