What is an Orthoptist?
An Orthoptist is a specialist who works with ophthalmologists to examine, diagnose, and treat a variety of visual disorders in children and adults ranging from blurred vision to misalignment of the ocular motor system. While not physicians, Orthoptists are trained at a two year medical fellowship where they are extensively trained in seeing a variety of patients in the field of Pediatric and Neuro Ophthalmology. They have been respected members of allied health care in ophthalmology for more than fifty years!
Orthoptists perform several specific tests to measure and assess visual acuity, focusing ability, binocular functions, eye movements and color vision, as well as retinoscopy and refractometry (checking a child or adult for glasses). Orthoptists also perform the measurements by which surgeons determine which procedure to perform to correct a given patients’ misaligned eyes.
Our Orthoptist, Rachael Jenkins, C.O., helps the ophthalmologist develop a treatment plan, which may involve treatment by the Orthoptist (such as patching, eye drops, and eye exercises, surgical treatment by the ophthalmologist or a combination of both.
