Occupation Summary

Orthoptists

O*NET 29-1299.02

Description:

Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments.

Annual Wages:
$119,492.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 11.48%.
Education Level:
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Assist ophthalmologists in diagnostic ophthalmic procedures, such as ultrasonography, fundus photography, and tonometry.
  2. Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.
  3. Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders.
  4. Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.
  5. Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.
  6. Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.
  7. Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results.
  8. Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.
  9. Refer patients to ophthalmic surgeons or other physicians.
  10. Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or patients with disabilities.
  11. Collaborate with ophthalmologists, optometrists, or other specialists in the diagnosis, treatment, or management of conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal diseases.
  12. Prepare diagnostic or treatment reports for other medical practitioners or therapists.
  13. Participate in clinical research projects.
  14. Present or publish scientific papers.
  15. Perform vision screening of children in schools or community health centers.
  16. Provide training related to clinical methods or orthoptics to students, resident physicians, or other health professionals.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Orthoptists employed Annual Growth Rate
Offices of other health practitioners 5.8 1.41
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 4 0.69


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $57.45
2024 National average hourly wage $61.86
2022 National employment 35,200
2022 Texas employment 2,299
Texas projected employment by 2032 2,563
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 161




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
84.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
84.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
74.80%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
74.80%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
67.40%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
64.40%
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
57.80%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
57.00%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
51.80%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
51.80%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
77.60%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
75.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
72.40%
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
72.40%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
70.00%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
67.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
67.60%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
67.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
75.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%


  • Documenting/Recording Information
    -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

Binocular vision test sets: Worth 4-dot tests; Synoptophores;

Color perception testing lanterns: Color vision testing devices;

Depth perception apparatus: Lang stereo tests; Randot stereo tests; Titmus stereo tests; TNO stereo tests;

Digital cameras: Digital cameras;

Exophthalmometers: Hertel exophthalmometers;

Eye charts or vision cards: Vision testing charts; Teller acuity cards; Sheridan Gardiner tests; Snellen eye charts; Lea symbols near vision cards; LogMAR charts; Cardiff cards; Contrast sensitivity charts;

Eye occluders: Maddox rods; Opaque occluders; Pinhole occluders;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Ophthalmic eye test lenses: Bagolini lenses; Adult trial frames; Pediatric trial frames; Trial lenses;

Ophthalmic instrument table accessories: Handheld fixation lights; Fixation targets; Animated fixation targets;

Ophthalmic lensometers: Ophthalmic lensometers; Focimeters;

Ophthalmic perimeters: Ophthalmic perimeters;

Ophthalmic prisms: Ophthalmic prisms; Fresnel prisms; Combined vertical/horizontal prism bars;

Ophthalmic retinoscopes: Retinoscopes;

Ophthalmic slit lamps: Ophthalmic slit lamps; Portable biomicroscopes;

Ophthalmic visual function analyzers: Deviometers; Digital fundus cameras;

Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets: Direct ophthalmoscopes; Indirect ophthalmoscopes; Scanning laser ophthalmoscopes; Visuscopes;

Opticians tools: Optokinetic drums;

Overhead projectors: Overhead projectors;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Slide projectors: Slide projectors;

Vision testing stereoscopes: Amblyoscopes;


Technology

Computer based training software: Computer perceptual processing software; SeeRite Flash and Match;

Electronic mail software: Email software;

Medical software: HTS Vision CVS2; HTS Vision HTS2 Computerized Binocular Home Eye Exercise System; MAX Systems Max-Gold Medical Clinic Software; Therapeutic orthoptic software; Computer Aided Vision Therapy CAVT;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Eye Tracking Exercises Enterprises Track with Letters;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Orthoptists include:
  • 29-1229.01 Allergists and Immunologists
  • 29-1213.00 Dermatologists
  • 29-1214.00 Emergency Medicine Physicians
  • 29-1216.00 General Internal Medicine Physicians
  • 29-1217.00 Neurologists
  • 29-1241.00 Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
  • 29-1041.00 Optometrists
  • 29-1243.00 Pediatric Surgeons
  • 29-1229.04 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
  • 29-1071.00 Physician Assistants


No sources of additional information found.

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.