Judy Higgins, CO, COT

Judy Petrunak, CO, COT is a Certified Orthoptist at Children’s Eye Care of Michigan with 40 years of experience in pediatric and adult strabismus, amblyopia, double vision, and specialized testing of vision, eye alignment, and eye movements.

Judy has spent nearly her entire career caring for patients at Children’s Eye Care, first joining the practice in 1986 and returning in 1991. Her extensive experience includes the evaluation of infants and children as well as adults with complex eye alignment and binocular vision disorders.

In addition to her clinical work, Judy has been deeply involved in orthoptic education, research, and professional leadership. She has published and lectured extensively on strabismus, binocular vision, and ocular motility and has held numerous leadership positions within the American Association of Certified Orthoptists (AACO) and the American Orthoptic Council (AOC).

Orthoptic Expertise

• Pediatric Strabismus Testing — specialized measurement of eye alignment and eye movements in infants, children, and adolescents
• Adult Strabismus & Double Vision Testing — detailed evaluation of eye alignment and binocular function in adults with strabismus and diplopia
• Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) Testing & Follow-Up — visual acuity and alignment testing as part of physician-directed care
• Sensorimotor Examinations — detailed measurements of ocular alignment, motility, and binocular function
• Infant & Pediatric Vision Testing — age-appropriate methods for measuring vision in babies and young children
• Complex Ocular Motility Testing — specialized measurements for patients with more complicated eye movement and alignment disorders
• Patient & Parent Education — helping patients and families understand testing and physician-directed treatment plans

The Role of an Orthoptist

Certified Orthoptists are highly trained eye care professionals who specialize in the evaluation of eye alignment, eye movements, and binocular vision. At Children’s Eye Care, our orthoptists work closely with pediatric ophthalmologists and adult strabismus specialists, performing specialized testing that helps physicians diagnose and manage conditions such as strabismus (eye misalignment) and amblyopia (lazy eye).

Orthoptists are especially skilled at evaluating infants and young children, using age-appropriate techniques to measure vision and eye alignment even when a child is too young to read an eye chart or describe what they see.

This collaborative approach is an important part of the specialized pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus care provided at Children’s Eye Care.

Experience & Orthoptic Training

Judy earned her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Wayne State University, graduating with highest distinction. She completed her postgraduate orthoptic training at Kresge Eye Institute of Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center in 1986 and became a Certified Orthoptist that same year.

Judy began her career in 1986 working in pediatric ophthalmology and joined Children’s Eye Care and Center for Adult Strabismus the following year. After several years away from the practice, she returned to Children’s Eye Care in 1991 and has remained part of the practice ever since.

Throughout her career, Judy has contributed extensively to the field of orthoptics through professional education, research, publications, and national leadership. Her published work has addressed topics including intermittent exotropia, prism adaptation, convergence insufficiency, and binocular vision disorders in adults. She has also presented extensively at regional and national professional meetings on pediatric and adult strabismus, ocular motility, and binocular vision.

Judy's contributions to orthoptics have been recognized by the American Association of Certified Orthoptists, including the Richard G. Scobee Memorial Award for excellence in orthoptic studies, the AACO Honor Certificate, and the Lancaster Award.