Roles and Responsibilities of an Orthoptist

Orthoptists areeye specialists looking to investigate, diagnose and treat defects of binocular vision and abnormalities of eye, its physiology and mechanics. The work involves treating patients of all ages from small children to the elderly.

The job

Orthoptists form part of the eye care team and generally work closely together with vision scientists such as ophthalmologists and optometrists

The professional role of the orthoptist include examining patients with eye problems especially those related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (squint). Orthoptists diagnose these problems and determine appropriate management. Some perform vision screening of children in schools and community health centres.

As orthoptists form part of a multidisciplinary team they are also involved in the management of conditions such as:

• neurological disorders
• glaucoma
• cataract
• stroke
• retinal disease

Being an orthoptist requires an interest in working with people and good communication skills. After comprehensive education that involves a wide range of disciplines and techniques you will enter a highly structure and interesting profession.

Orthoptists work locations?

The majority of orthoptists are employed within the NHS but orthoptists have the choice to work in a variety of settings including:

• universities
• Specialist eye hospitals
• hospital eye departments
• health centre and clinics
  
• special schools
• charities
• private clinics

Orthoptic plus points

• no course tuition fees are payable. They are paid for by the Department of Health (provided UK and EU citizen)
• excellent graduate employment rate
• flexible working – part-time, full-time and job share
• good prospects for orthoptists returning to work
  

Career prospects

The profession offers enormous opportunities for career development and of endless variety such as:

• progress to senior, head and consultant orthoptist
• teach undergraduate students on clinical placement
• management post
• postgraduate research
• clinical research
• lecturing at university

Training requirements This is a three-year full-time degree course, available at Liverpool and Sheffield universities. Each year consists of both theory and clinical experience. Following completion of the course you are eligible to apply for the registration necessary to work as an orthoptist in the NHS. Click here for details of degree programmes.

Websites and links :

www.britishorthopticsociety.co.uk
http://www.liv.ac.uk/orthoptics/
http://www.shef.ac.uk/medicine/orthoptics