# Will orthoptists be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 Orthoptists score 39 out of 100 for AI exposure. AI helps with 56% of their task time, and they stay in charge. AI can do another 6%. 38% needs a person. - **6%** AI can do it - **56%** AI helps - **38%** Needs a person Moderate exposure Higher than 51% of the 923 jobs we scored. ## Task by task We graded 16 tasks, most exposed first. AI can do 1 of them, helps with 9 and leaves 6 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Prepare diagnostic or treatment reports for other medical practitioners or therapists. AI can draft reports from notes; clinician reviews and signs. | 70% AI can do it | | Present or publish scientific papers. AI drafts manuscripts and figures quickly; author judgement stays central. | 60% AI helps | | Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results. AI can read and summarize results; clinician confirms meaning. | 55% AI helps | | Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans. AI can draft clear instructions, but delivery needs human explanation. | 45% AI helps | | Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders. AI can draft plan options from findings; clinician approves treatment. | 45% AI helps | ## How orthoptists compare All jobs (923) Healthcare practitioners and technical (89) The dark line is **orthoptists, at 39**. Each dot is a score, and darker dots mean more jobs share it. The short marks are the averages, 37 for all jobs and 34 for healthcare practitioners and technical. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $115,210 a year, May 2025 People employed 14,315 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +5.5% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Run binocular vision tests with CAVT and HTS Vision CVS2 - Write treatment plans in MAX Systems Max-Gold Medical Clinic Software - Interpret motility and acuity results before signing reports - Hold hands-on testing skills for strabismus and nystagmus patients - Present clinical findings in Microsoft PowerPoint for referring doctors ## Safer roles nearby 5 related jobs with lower scores. - [Ophthalmologists33 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/ophthalmologists/) - [Optometrists27 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/optometrists/) - [Emergency medicine physicians33 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/emergency-medicine-physicians/) - [Physiatrists35 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/physiatrists/) - [Neurologists37 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/neurologists/) ## Questions about orthoptists and AI Will AI replace orthoptists? Partly. About 3 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly preparing diagnostic reports for other practitioners and interpreting clinical test results. Hands-on testing of eye movement, binocular vision and amblyopia stays with orthoptists because it needs a person and equipment in the room with the patient. Which orthoptist tasks is AI taking over? Report writing and results summaries. Preparing diagnostic or treatment reports for other practitioners has an exposure score of 70, so AI can draft them from notes. Interpreting test results, scored 55, can be read and summarized by AI, with the orthoptist confirming what the findings mean. Which orthoptist tasks stay human? Hands-on testing and patient-facing care. Performing motor, acuity and retinoscopy tests scores 12 on exposure, because the work needs equipment operated manually. Examining ocular motility and binocular vision scores 15, since it needs live patient contact. Vision screening of children in schools also stays with people. How can orthoptists stay valuable as AI spreads? Keep the hands-on exam and check every AI draft. Run binocular and motility tests on CAVT and HTS Vision CVS2 yourself, then review AI-drafted reports in Microsoft Word before signing. Adapt tests for young or disabled patients, and explain treatment plans to families face to face. ## Related jobs - [General internal medicine physicians44 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/general-internal-medicine-physicians/) - [Allergists41 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/allergists/) - [Pediatric surgeons29 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/pediatric-surgeons/) - [Dermatologists34 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/dermatologists/) ## Next steps for orthoptists - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV to see which tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) - ### Estimate team savings The score is per person. Add headcount and salary to see the hours AI can take on in a team of orthoptists, and what they cost. [Estimate what AI saves a team of orthoptists](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/team-ai-audit/?role=orthoptists) [Work out the return on automation](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-savings-calculator/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Roustabouts score lowest, at 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Pediatric surgeons earn a median $559,030 and score 29.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Roustabouts need little prior training and score 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**AI helps with 98% of the task time for health informatics specialists.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we score, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 job groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Sources and licences Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.