Stephen Burwell, CO, COT is one of the board-certified orthoptists that works with Children’s Eye Care’s pediatric ophthalmologists in diagnosing and treating pediatric and adult patients with amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes, misaligned eyes). He’s also a member of the Department of Ophthalmology at Children’s Eye Care.
After finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, he joined Children’s Eye Care’s clinic team as an Ophthalmic Technician and then went on to successfully complete an Orthoptic Fellowship. In 2016, he passed his written and oral boards to become a board certified orthoptist. Stephen won the 2016 Richard G. Scobee Memorial Award. This national recognition is given to the orthoptist, and training program, who received the highest written and oral scores on that year’s board certification.
Orthoptics is an ancillary field within ophthalmology pertaining to the evaluation of disorders of the visual system, with an emphasis on binocular (two-eyed) vision. Orthoptists are board-certified by the American Orthoptic Council after the successful completion of a two-year clinical orthoptic program and a previoius baccalaureate degree.
The successful evaluation of children requires patience in a playful, gentle atmosphere. Orthoptists are specialists in evaluating vision of children of all ages and abilities, as well as adults with eye misalignment and double vision and are uniquely skilled in specialized diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
In addition to staffing our offices, the orthoptists at Children’s Eye Care participate in the clinical education of ophthalmology residents-in-training at Children’s Hospital of MI, as well as contribute to clinical research in the study of ocular motility.
Bachelor’s Degree
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Post-Graduate Training
Certified Ophthalmic Technician, JCAHPO
Post-Graduate Training
Orthoptic Training Program, Children’s Eye Care, Detroit, MI
Certified Orthoptist
American Orthoptic Council