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BECOMING AN ORTHOPTIST

BECOMING AN ORTHOPTIST. Daniela Curto. WHAT IS AN ORTHOPTIST?. Orthoptists are  eye care professionals  who specialise in the diagnosis and management of binocular vision problems.

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BECOMING AN ORTHOPTIST

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  1. BECOMING AN ORTHOPTIST Daniela Curto

  2. WHAT IS AN ORTHOPTIST? Orthoptists are eye care professionals who specialise in the diagnosis and management of binocular vision problems. Orthoptists examine adults and children but especially children in the prevention and non-surgical treatment of many visual disorders: • Refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia), Amblyopia. • Strabismus, Diplopia • They assist in treating diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, age related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and vision consequences of stroke and neurological disease. • They play an important role in the management of visual field defect • They evaluate people that work many hours at PC • They take care of patients before an after surgery and they can assist the surgeon during the operation.

  3. Treatments: • To alleviate symptoms and improve vision (glasses,orthopticexercises,…) • To reverse vision loss in the case ofamblyopia (pathing or penalizationtherapy) • Totreat diplopia withprismtherapy • Toprovide low vision rehabilitationforvisualimpairment .

  4. HOW TO BECAME AN ORTHOPTIST Every student have to complete a 3 year degree course in Orthoptics, in which there are 1400 hours of clinical training. Clinical experience takes place in hospitals. Each student will be able to practice skills learned in lecture. By the second years of university they can visit patients and perform diagnostic tests.

  5. The Core Competence of an orthoptist include the knowdlege of: • Ocular Anatomy and Physiology • OphthalmologicalNeuro-Anatomy • DiagnosticTesting • ChildVisualDevelopment • Refractometry and refractive errors • Association between Systemic Diseases and Ocular Motility Disorders • Treatment ofMotilityDisorders • Treatment ofVisualDisorders • Low Vision • ClinicalResearchSkills

  6. Where Do they can Work? • Orthoptists usually work in close cooperation with Ophthalmologists, pediatriciansand neurologists. • They may work in a public sector in hospitals, in a private ophthalmology office and sometimes they work in the community, for example for screening activities like visiting primary schools or glaucoma screening in mobile testing station

  7. WHY TO BECOME AN ORTHOPTIST? • Do you like relate with people and try to help them? • Do you like children? • Are youableto motivate and supportpeolplewith a chronicdisorder, in particular people with low vision? Orthoptists can have a variety of work opportunities but they also have an important professional responsibility towards patients.

  8. Skills required • They need to be methodical and accurate in work • They should be able to relate to a wide range of people • they need to have good communication skills and a responsible, professional approach • They should be able to work on their own but should also be able to work well as part of a multidisciplinary team

  9. Thankyouforyourattention! • References: • http://www.orthoptics.org/ • http://www.tcos.ca/english/about_orthoptics/index.php • http://www.aiorao.it/chisiamo.aspx • L.Massari, M.J.Teriaca,English on Call,scienza medica, Torino 2009; p.209-215

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