Professional Association of Orthoptics Germany

The Berufsverband Orthoptik Deutschland e.V. (BOD), rendered in English as the Professional Association of Orthoptics Germany, is a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) that unites state-recognised orthoptists in Germany. Orthoptics is the allied-health discipline concerned with the assessment and non-surgical management of binocular vision disorders, eye movement disorders, amblyopia and related conditions, and the BOD exists to represent the professional, scientific and political interests of the practitioners working in that field. Founded in 1971 and formerly known as the Berufsverband der Orthoptistinnen Deutschlands, the association is headquartered in Cologne. Its stated purposes combine continuing scientific and practical education with professional-policy advocacy: it represents its members before political bodies, medical associations, health insurers, allied professions, rehabilitation institutions and self-help organisations. It also conducts public-relations work, maintains international communication with other specialist associations and organisations, and promotes interdisciplinary cooperation among professionals active in prevention, diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation. According to the German Wikipedia entry, of roughly 2,400 practising orthoptists in Germany about 1,300 were organised in the association as of 2018. The BOD is divided into nine regional associations, which run regional conferences and continuing-education days across the country. Membership is offered in the form of ordinary full membership and an extraordinary student membership. Internationally, the BOD is represented by a delegate in the International Orthoptic Association (I.O.A.) and in the European umbrella body Comité des Orthoptistes de la Communauté Européenne (OCE). The International Orthoptic Association has called for an International World Orthoptic Day on the first Monday of June since 2013. The association also publishes an internal specialist journal, Orthoptik – Pleoptik, issued once a year in a print run of about 1,500 copies to members and interested parties. On its official website the BOD presents itself as a body that "unites, promotes and networks" orthoptists, offering membership advice and organising events such as regional conferences; the site marks the association's 55th anniversary and advertises continuing education open to members and non-members alike. Leadership cited in the German Wikipedia entry comprises first chair Daniela Lemm and managing director Melanie van Waveren.

The Berufsverband Orthoptik Deutschland e.V. was founded in 1971, at a time when orthoptics was consolidating as a distinct allied-health profession in Germany. It was originally named Berufsverband der Orthoptistinnen Deutschlands, reflecting the overwhelmingly female composition of the profession at the time, and later adopted the gender-inclusive name Berufsverband Orthoptik Deutschland. From its beginnings the association combined two functions that remain central today: the scientific and practical further education of orthoptists, and the representation of their professional interests. Over the decades it built a structure of regional associations — nine in total — that bring continuing education and networking events to members across Germany, and it established relations with political bodies, medical associations, health insurers, allied professions, rehabilitation institutions and self-help organisations. The association also developed an international dimension. It maintains a delegate in the International Orthoptic Association (I.O.A.), the worldwide professional body, and in the European umbrella organisation Comité des Orthoptistes de la Communauté Européenne (OCE). The International Orthoptic Association has promoted an International World Orthoptic Day on the first Monday of June since 2013, a date the German association supports through its public-relations work. By 2018, according to the German Wikipedia entry, roughly 1,300 of about 2,400 practising orthoptists in Germany were members of the BOD. The association publishes an internal specialist journal, Orthoptik – Pleoptik, once a year in a print run of about 1,500 copies, distributed to members and interested parties. Its headquarters are in Cologne. As of the period covered by the German Wikipedia entry, the first chair was Daniela Lemm and the managing director was Melanie van Waveren; the official website also quotes deputy chair Judith Weis on the value of voluntary engagement in shaping the profession's future. In the mid-2020s the association continued to present itself as an active membership body, promoting the benefits of membership, running regional conferences and continuing-education days open to members and non-members, and marking its 55th anniversary. Its website advertises upcoming events such as the Regional Conference Baden-Württemberg in Freiburg on 10 October 2026 and a membership advice line.

• 2026

  The association marks its 55th anniversary and continues to run regional conferences and continuing education.

• 2018

  About 1,300 of roughly 2,400 practising orthoptists in Germany are members of the BOD, which is divided into nine regional associations.

• 2013

  The International Orthoptic Association, in which the BOD holds a delegate, calls for an International World Orthoptic Day on the first Monday of June.

• 1971

  The association is founded as the Berufsverband der Orthoptistinnen Deutschlands.

The professional association and interest representation for state-recognised orthoptists in Germany, combining continuing education, networking and advocacy before political bodies, medical associations, health insurers and allied professions.

• Full membership

  Ordinary full membership for practising orthoptists.

• Student membership

  Extraordinary membership for students.

• Orthoptik – Pleoptik

  Internal specialist journal published once a year in a print run of about 1,500 copies.

• Regional conferences and continuing education

  Events organised by the nine regional associations, open to members and non-members.

1. 1Berufsverband Orthoptik e.V. - BODorthoptik.de
2. 2Professional Association of Orthoptics Germany (Wikidata)wikidata.org
3. 3Berufsverband Orthoptik Deutschland (German Wikipedia)de.wikipedia.org