Education level
Job area
Your role as an orthoptist
You'll look after people who have eye muscle and vision problems. They often involve the way eyes move or work together (binocular function).
Your role involves:
- testing for conditions like lazy eye, a turned eye or double vision
- looking after people at risk of eye problems, like those with diabetes
- treating eye problems that don't need surgery with things like eye exercises and vision aids.
How is an orthoptist different to an ophthalmologist or optometrist
Orthoptists are allied health professionals that specialise in eye muscle movement disorders. That includes things like cross-eyed, lazy eye or double vision.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialise in eye care and surgery. They do things like cataract and laser eye surgery. You need to train for longer to become an ophthalmologist.
Optometrists do eye tests, prescribe corrective glasses and treat problems like glaucoma and eye infections. Optometrists can prescribe medicines such as eye drops.
What your day might look like
You could work in a range of different settings, like a hospital, eye clinic or private practice. You'll work closely with eye doctors to care for both adults and children with eye muscle movement problems and other eye conditions. Those conditions might include:
- cataracts
- glaucoma
- diabetic eye disease
- aging eye disorders (or age-related eye disease)
- strabismus (squint)
- amblyopia (lazy eye)
- double vision
- stroke or traumatic brain injury
You'll do different types of eye tests to look for problems with eye movement and function. You'll help people regain function in their eyes after things like stroke or a brain injury. You'll use a range of different treatments like eye exercises, vision aids and glasses.
You can choose to specialise in areas like children’s vision, eye movement disorders and brain-related eye problems and low vision care.
Read more about working as an orthoptist on Your Career.
Qualifications
Bachelor's or master's degree in orthoptics
Professional association
Accredited with the Australian Orthoptics Board
If you're doing ultrasounds, you'll also need to be accredited by the Australian Sonography Accreditation Registry (ASAR).
Pay and benefits
Your pay rate and benefits will depend on your role and your pay point. In your first year you’ll start at health professional grade HP3, pay point 1. You’ll get a different rate if you’re in a higher level role.
We also offer:
- regular wage increases
- a superannuation rate of 12.75%
- a supportive workplace with flexible working arrangements
- several types of leave
- salary packaging
- help with ongoing professional development costs.
If you're moving to start a new job with us, you may be able to get help with moving and travel costs.
Rural and remote opportunities
You may also be able to get financial incentives and other benefits if you work in rural and remote areas.
Read about our opportunities for rural allied health careers.
Professional growth
Continuing professional development (CPD) is an essential part of being an orthoptist. You'll have opportunities to build CPD points through:
- rural experience
- research
- mentoring orthoptic students
- journal clubs and in-house education meetings
- education and training with the Clinical Skills Development Service and the Cunningham Centre.
Career paths
Doing more training after you become an orthoptist can lead to other roles.
- Optometrist
- Health service management
- Researcher in eye health
- Clinical educator
If you plan to do more study, ask your training provider if your past studies can count towards a higher qualification.