Orthoptics

Orthoptics at Ashtead Hospital

What is orthoptics?

Orthoptics is the investigation, diagnosis, monitoring and non-surgical management of patients with disorders of their eyes and visual system.

Children and adult patients attend orthoptic appointments for symptoms relating to eye misalignment, eye movement control, and focusing problems. These can be caused by eye muscle issues or nerve defects that affect how your brain communicates with your eyes.

What does an orthoptist do?

Orthoptists diagnose and manage a wide range of conditions affecting vision and binocular vision (using both eyes together). They see adults and children but often much of their work is with young children who have amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (squint).

An orthoptist does many things including:

  • Assessing vision – including the power of your current vision and your need for glasses
  • Fitting contacts lenses
  • Eye photography of your retina, lens, or cornea
  • Performing technical tests to help ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye conditions, such as examining and measuring:
    • eye movement
    • eye pressure in a glaucoma check
    • your vision and field of vision (peripheral vision) that can be affected by strokes and glaucoma
    • your eye before cataract surgery
    • the shape of your cornea
    • your tear film production
    • colour vision
    • to see if you have circulation problems in your retina (fundus fluorescein angiography)
  • Offer treatments including eye patches, eye exercises, prisms or glasses, or refer for eye surgery.
  • Assist with
    • laser procedures - refractive surgery and glaucoma treatment
    • minor procedures - tear duct probing and cyst removal from your eyelid
    • cataract surgery
  • Educating on eye conditions and ways to manage and treat them.

What conditions do orthoptists treat?

Conditions that orthoptists commonly treat include:

  • Double vision - see two images of the same thing
  • Nystagmus - wobbly eyes
  • Ptosis - droopy eyelids
  • Strabismus - squint
  • Amblyopia - lazy eye.

Orthoptists also work with patients who have neurological conditions, such as stroke, brain tumours, and multiple sclerosis.

What is the difference between an orthoptist and an ophthalmologist?

Both orthoptists and ophthalmologists work in eye health and often work closely together as part of an eye care team. But their roles are different.

An orthoptist is an allied health professional (AHP) who is an eye care specialist. They assess, diagnose, and non-surgically treat a range of eye problems, such as squint, lazy eye, and double vision. They aim to relieve visual symptoms and enhance visual performance. They are seen as experts in childhood vision screening.

An ophthalmologist has trained as a medical doctor, worked in general medicine and surgery, and specialised in the eye including surgical treatment. These doctors can diagnose and treat all eye diseases and perform eye surgery. They treat your eyes as part of the whole body, and can identify eye conditions which may be related to, or are the result of, another disease of your body such as diabetes. Ophthalmologists may sub-specialise in eye areas such as cornea or retina, or in certain eye diseases such as glaucoma. They can also perform laser eye surgery to correct refractive errors.

What are the costs of seeing an orthoptist?

The costs of seeing an orthoptist will depend on your eye condition and its recommended treatments, and your chosen Ramsay hospital.

You will receive a formal quotation price after your consultation. This formal quote will be valid for 60 days.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Medical insurance policies may cover orthoptist visits and treatment. This can depend on the cover offered by your insurance policy. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before seeing your orthoptist.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your orthoptist yourself. These include interest-free finance with no deposit and monthly instalments at 0% interest.

What is the recovery process after seeing an orthoptist

The recovery process after seeing an orthoptist will differ from patient to patient and their eye condition and treatment.

Typically, patients who are given orthoptist treatment have no recovery. Patients just need to get used to wearing an eye patch or glasses or remember to do their eye exercises.

If you have an eye prism, your double vision may get better quickly. But for others, recovery may take time and vision may even get worse before getting better. You may need to change the strength of your prism to get it right for you. You will have regular checks with your orthoptist to monitor that the prism is still the right strength.  

You may be referred on for eye surgery after seeing an orthoptist. Recovery after eye surgery will again differ depending on the exact eye treatment you have.

Orthoptics at Ramsay

Orthoptics is the study of eye and vision problems including vision development, eye co-ordination, eye misalignment, and near-focussing issues.

Experienced orthoptists work as part of your eye care team at your local Ramsay hospital. They see patients who may be experiencing symptoms such as blurred or double vision or who may have outward vision problems, such as misalignment or uncontrolled eye movement.

Our orthoptists are fully trained in the management and correction of eye vision issues. They use the latest tests, offer comprehensive treatment options, and provide useful advice on eye conditions and their management.

If eye surgery is required, they can seamlessly refer patients on to consultant ophthalmologists within the team. They often assist with laser and minor surgical procedures for continuity of care.

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