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| Orthoptics |
Orthoptic Department
Where Do We Provide Treatment & How can you contact us?
You can contact us at one of our three main departments:
Monday to Friday (9am – 5pm)
Ulster Hospital 02890 484511 Ext 2308
Ards Hospital 02891 510112
Bangor Health Centre 02891 515207
What is an Orthoptist?
Orthoptists generally diagnose and treat visual problems that arise from failure of the eyes to function together correctly
What do we treat?
Some examples of problems we treat are:
- ‘Lazy eye’ (amblyopia) which is a reduction in vision due to any defect present in early life that prevents adequate visual stimulation
- Defective binocular vision, which is the inability to use the two eyes together correctly. This leads to squint (strabismus) and impairment of depth perception.
- Abnormal eye movements due to injury or disease involving the eye muscles or their nerve supply.
- Double vision, which may result from abnormal eye movements or strabismus.
In addition to this the Orthoptists in the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust provide:
- A pre school vision screening service
- Visual field clinics
- Specific needs clinic (for children with mental or physical disabilities)
- Diabetic Retinopathy Screening – Ulster Hospital
General Information:
An ocular disability, perhaps initially slight, can become a major handicap if not promptly identified and treated. Quality of vision is crucial to infant development, to a child’s education, to employment prospects, to the pursuit of leisure activities and to the enjoyment of retirement.
Orthoptists with their manual, communicative and analytical skills and unique training in visual assessment of children and the non verbal patient make a significant contribution to visual health. With a particular interest in the very young and the elderly, Orthoptists work with all age groups and liase with a range of professionals including Opthalmologists, Optometrists, Paediatricians, Neurologists and other Health Care Workers.
How Can You Be Referred?
The Orthoptic Service can be directly accessed by the following Health Professionals:
- GP’s
- Health Visitors
- School Nurses
- Optometrists
- Acute Opthalmic & Medical Staff
- Community Opthalmologists
Recruitment/Career information
Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust – http://www.ucht.n-i.nhs.uk/
British Orthoptic Society - www.britishorthopticsociety.co.uk
University of Sheffield - www.shef.ac.uk
University of Liverpool - www.liv.ac.uk
Health Professions Council - www.hpc.co.uk
DHSSPSNI web site - www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
Frequently Asked Questions:
What do I need to bring with me? – Please bring along your current spectacles and a list of medication you are currently taking.
How long will my appointment be? – Average time 20 minutes.
What do I do if I need an interpreter? – The Trust has access to interpreting services. (insert link to Policy Code: UCHT/GEN/Mge(20)2004)
What if I can’t attend? – Please contact the department by telephoning the clinic number on your appointment card.