Orthoptics

Orthoptists investigate, diagnose and manage patients with eye movement disorders and children’s vision development. Conditions can range from common disorders to more severe conditions that can cause lifelong poor vision.

More information can be found on the British and Irish Orthoptic Society website.

We see patients with eye and visual problems such as:

Squint (Strabismus) – when one eye is not aligned with the other
Double vision (Diplopia) – caused by a squint in some patients
Lazy eye (Amblyopia) – when the vision in one eye is reduced because the eye has had a blurred image during childhood and the normal connections have not been made between eye and brain.
Nystagmus
Visual field defects

Orthoptists work closely with ophthalmologists, optometrists, paediatric and nursery nurses.

Services we offer

General hospital clinics for assessment and treatment of children with eye and vision problems
Outreach clinics for assessment and treatment of children with eye and vision problems
Joint Orthoptic and Optometry clinics
Joint consultant clinics
Community vision screening of pre-school and 4 – 5 year old children to detect for any reduced vision and suspected squints
Vision clinic as part of a multidisciplinary team in the child development centre to assess children with vision problems associated with general developmental disorders
Neuro-ophthalmology and stroke services
Walkergate Park Neuro-rehabilitation centre
Teaching and research
Day case and inpatient beds in the Great North Children’s Hospital.

Outreach clinics

Our paediatric services can be offered in Outreach clinics. These include:

Newcastle	CRESTA clinic
Gateshead	Fell Tower Medical Practice
Northumberland	Cramlington Manor Walks, Hexham General Hospital, Alnwick Infirmary, Union Brae Medical Practice, Berwick
North Tyneside	Monkseaton, Wallsend, North Shields, Dudley