Stephen Burwell, CO, COT

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

Stephen has been part of the Children’s Eye Care clinical team since 2012, initially working as an ophthalmic assistant before entering the practice’s Orthoptic Training Program. He completed his postgraduate orthoptic training in 2016 and became both a Certified Orthoptist and Certified Ophthalmic Technician.

Stephen earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. Before beginning his career in ophthalmology, he also worked as a laboratory manager at the University of Michigan, giving him an early background in scientific research.

Orthoptic Expertise

• Pediatric Strabismus Testing — specialized measurement of eye alignment and eye movements in infants, children, and adolescents
• Adult Strabismus & Double Vision Testing — detailed sensorimotor testing for adults with eye misalignment and double vision
• 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
• 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

Stephen earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan in 2010. After graduation, he worked as a laboratory manager at the University of Michigan before transitioning into clinical eye care.

He joined Children’s Eye Care in 2012 as an ophthalmic assistant and later entered the practice’s postgraduate Orthoptic Training Program. Stephen completed his orthoptic training in 2016, becoming a Certified Orthoptist through the American Orthoptic Council and a Certified Ophthalmic Technician.

During his orthoptic training, Stephen received the Richard G. Scobee Memorial Award for excellence in orthoptic studies. He also presented on optic pathway gliomas in children at a regional meeting of the 

Stephen has remained with Children’s Eye Care as a Certified Orthoptist since completing his training in 2016, giving him more than a decade of experience with the practice and its pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus team.