AOC C.O. key terms

The allied health discipline concerned with the assessment and non-surgical management of binocular vision disorders, eye alignment problems, and ocular motility deficits, typically delivered by specially trained orthoptists working with ophthalmologists.

A practitioner who has met the education, clinical training, and examination standards set by the Accredited Orthoptic Council and holds active certification to practice orthoptics.

The body that establishes educational standards, accredits orthoptic training programs, administers certification examinations, and sets continuing education and recertification requirements for orthoptists.

An orthoptic education program that has been reviewed and formally approved by the AOC as meeting its curriculum, faculty, and clinical training standards.

The demonstrated ability to perform required orthoptic assessment and management skills safely and accurately at the level expected of an entry-level certified orthoptist.

The range of clinical activities, assessments, and treatments a certified orthoptist is trained and authorized to perform, as defined by professional standards and applicable regulation.

The ongoing process by which a certified orthoptist keeps certification active by meeting continuing education, practice, and other periodic requirements set by the AOC.

The periodic renewal of orthoptic certification, granted after the certificant demonstrates continued competence through required education, practice, and any mandated reassessment.

A standardized credit used to measure participation in approved post-certification learning activities, accumulated to satisfy recertification requirements.

Educational activities that have been reviewed and approved by a recognized body as meeting quality standards and eligible for CEU credit toward recertification.

A condition in which the eyes are misaligned, so that one eye deviates from the target being viewed while the other fixates.

A manifest deviation of the eyes that is present when binocular viewing conditions allow both eyes to see, also called a tropia.

A latent tendency for the eyes to deviate that is normally controlled by fusional mechanisms and becomes apparent only when fusion is disrupted, as in the cover test.

Reduced best-corrected visual acuity in one or both eyes caused by abnormal visual experience during development, without a structural cause in the eye itself.

Treatment for amblyopia in which the better-seeing eye is patched or otherwise blurred to force use of the amblyopic eye.

A treatment approach that reduces vision in the dominant eye pharmacologically or optically, rather than by patching, to encourage use of the amblyopic eye.

A core orthoptic test in which each eye is alternately covered while fixation is observed, revealing manifest deviations and, after uncovering, latent deviations.

A cover test variation in which the cover is moved directly from one eye to the other without an interval of binocular viewing, used to measure the total deviation.

A cover test performed with prisms placed before the deviating eye to neutralize the movement, allowing quantification of the angle of deviation.

The unit of prism power defined as the deflection of a light ray by one centimeter at a distance of one meter, used to specify and neutralize deviations.

The measured magnitude, usually in prism diopters, of the misalignment between the visual axes of the two eyes.

The cortical process that combines slightly disparate images from the two eyes into a single percept, supporting binocular single vision.

The perception of depth produced by the brain's integration of horizontally disparate retinal images from the two eyes.

The smallest detectable difference in depth, typically measured in seconds of arc, used to quantify the quality of stereoscopic vision.

A polarized vectographic test using stereoscopic targets to screen and measure stereoacuity at near fixation.

A cortical adaptation in which input from one eye is actively ignored to avoid diplopia or confusion, commonly occurring in strabismus.

The perception of two images of a single object, arising when the two eyes are misaligned and images fall on non-corresponding retinal points.

A binocular symptom in which two different objects are perceived simultaneously in the same visual direction because images fall on corresponding retinal points.

A dissociation test using red-green or polarized filters and four lights to assess binocular status, revealing suppression, diplopia, or fusion responses.

The coordinated use of both eyes so that a single, fused percept is perceived, normally accompanied by stereopsis.

The six muscles per eye responsible for moving the globe, whose function is assessed in orthoptic motility testing.

The assessment of eye movement range, accuracy, and coordination, including versions and ductions, to identify restrictions or palsies.

Conjugate eye movements in which both eyes move in the same direction, tested to evaluate the function of yoked muscle pairs.

Monocular eye movements tested with one eye covered, used to evaluate the function of individual extraocular muscles.

The sharpness of central vision, typically measured with standardized optotype charts at a specified distance and recorded with correction status noted.

The aiming of the fovea at a target of interest; assessment of fixation behavior helps characterize amblyopia and strabismus.

The ethical and conduct expectations for certified orthoptists, including honesty, patient confidentiality, informed consent, and practicing within one's competence.

The assignment of specific tasks to other personnel, which a certified orthoptist may do only when the task is within the delegate's training and consistent with professional standards.