The main thing to take away from understanding a career as an orthoptist is that you actually, positively help restore and maintain peoples' eyesight. Let that sink in. Think about how much different your life would be if your ability to see were even marginally out of whack. Fixing vision like that is absolutely glorious.

Many of your patients are children, too. You're not just helping them see the subtle facial expressions of cartoon characters to fully grasp the episodic interplay between protagonist and antagonist. You're helping them see and fully appreciate nature, art, and, yes, even video games for the rest of their lives.

 

Note that shining a bright light in your patients' faces isn't the same as them "lighting up." (Source)

The rest of their lives.

You may never get a plaque with a gold-plated eyeball to hang in your office, but that's not why you do what you do. Your hard work pays off every time a little face lights up at being able to finally see every leaf, every cloud, and every detail of their parent's face.

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