Allied Health Professions

Orthoptists are registered as Allied Health Professionals with the Health Professions Council. They are an important part of the eye care team, working in close association with ophthalmologists and optometrists, usually in a hospital-based setting. They assess, diagnose and treat visual function problems, abnormalities of eye movements and dysfunction of eye co-ordination in children and adults, such as squint, amblyopia/lazy eye and double vision.

Orthoptists are involved in many areas of care, including paediatrics, neurology, community services, rehabilitation, geriatrics, neonatology, maxillo-facial surgery and ophthalmic technology. Their specialised training enables them to assess visual functions in non-verbal patients, such as patients who are deemed to have special needs or stroke patients with diminished communication skills. After orthoptic investigation, treatment and management aims to achieve the maximum visual potential and to relieve symptoms, underpinned by education and counselling to both patient and carer. Orthoptic treatment may be a combination of occlusion, eye exercises, optical, pharmaceutical or surgical intervention based on the orthoptist's assessment.

There are currently 30 orthoptists working within the HPSS in Northern Ireland. Orthoptic training is provided at Honours Degree level by the University of Liverpool and the University of Sheffield.