Current orthoptic practice
Orthoptists are mainly involved with diagnosing and managing patients with binocular vision disorders which relate to amblyopia, extraocular muscle balance such as with version, refractive errors, vergence, accommodation imbalances, (positive relative accommodation, negative relative accommodation) and pathological causes. They work closely with ophthalmologists to ensure that patients with eye muscle disorders are offered a full range of treatment options. According to the International Orthoptic Association, professional orthoptic practice involves the following:
* Primary activities
o Ocular motility diagnosis & co-management
o Vision screening
o Assessment of special needs
o Assessment and rehabilitation in neurological disorders
* Secondary activities
o Low Vision assessment and management
o Glaucoma assessment & stable glaucoma management
o Biometry (includes sonography work)
o Fundus photography & screening
o Visual electrodiagnosis
o Retinoscopy and refraction, such as using a phoropter to assess refractive errors[23]
* Further activities
o Specific outpatient waiting list initiatives to reduce the delay for children referred to the eye clinic (filter screening)[24]
o Joint multidisciplinary children’s vision screening clinics (orthoptics/optometry)[25]
o Organisation/prioritisation of the strabismus surgical admissions list according to agreed criteria
o Assistance with surgical procedures
Orthoptists are mainly involved with diagnosing and managing patients with binocular vision disorders which relate to amblyopia, extraocular muscle balance such as with version, refractive errors, vergence, accommodation imbalances, (positive relative accommodation, negative relative accommodation) and pathological causes. They work closely with ophthalmologists to ensure that patients with eye muscle disorders are offered a full range of treatment options. According to the International Orthoptic Association, professional orthoptic practice involves the following:
* Primary activities
o Ocular motility diagnosis & co-management
o Vision screening
o Assessment of special needs
o Assessment and rehabilitation in neurological disorders
* Secondary activities
o Low Vision assessment and management
o Glaucoma assessment & stable glaucoma management
o Biometry (includes sonography work)
o Fundus photography & screening
o Visual electrodiagnosis
o Retinoscopy and refraction, such as using a phoropter to assess refractive errors[23]
* Further activities
o Specific outpatient waiting list initiatives to reduce the delay for children referred to the eye clinic (filter screening)[24]
o Joint multidisciplinary children’s vision screening clinics (orthoptics/optometry)[25]
o Organisation/prioritisation of the strabismus surgical admissions list according to agreed criteria
o Assistance with surgical procedures