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Orthoptics/Orthoptist

A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of ophthalmologists, to analyze, evaluate, and treat specific disorders of vision, eye movement, and eye alignment in children and adults. Includes instruction in eye anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, pharmacology, ophthalmic optics, diagnostic testing and measurement, orthoptic treatment therapy, systemic ocular diseases and disorders, principles of surgery, examination techniques, patient education, child psychology and development, learning disabilities, medical writing, and record-keeping.

Types of Degrees Orthoptics/Orthoptist Majors Are Earning

Those studying Orthoptics/Orthoptist have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	1

What Orthoptics/Orthoptist Majors Need to Know

Programs in Orthoptics/Orthoptist emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Orthoptics/Orthoptist emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Administrative — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Orthoptics/Orthoptist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Orthoptics/Orthoptist careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.5 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.8 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Orthoptics/Orthoptist professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
NaviNet Open	Medical software	—
iChartPlus	Medical software	—
MediPro Medisoft Clinical	Medical software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
AcuityPro	Medical software	—
EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems EyeMD EMR	Medical software	—
Medflow Complete	Medical software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates include:

• Ophthalmic Tech (Ophthalmic Technician)
• Medical Technician (Medical Tech)
• Ophthalmic Medical Assistant
• Health Technician (Health Tech)
• Ocular Care Technician (Ocular Care Tech)
• Ophthalmic Diagnostic Sonographer
• Ocular Care Technologist
• Ophthalmology Assistant
• Optical Technician (Optical Tech)
• Optometric Technician (Optometric Tech)
• Ophthalmic Assistant
• Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant
• Ophthalmology Technician (Ophthalmology Tech)
• Ophthalmic Scribe
• Certified Retinal Angiographer

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	59.1%
Postsecondary certificate	27.3%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	9.1%
Some college courses	4.5%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Orthoptics/Orthoptist?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 100% of Orthoptics/Orthoptist degrees.

How Much Do Orthoptics/Orthoptist Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$34,118
4 years	$36,016
5 years	$38,680

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $38,680 — roughly 13% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Orthoptics/Orthoptist Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates earn a median of $36,016 four years after completion — about 5% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions	742
Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician	352
Optometric Technician/Assistant	201
Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist	148
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions, Other	40

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.