Skip to 0 minutes and 3 seconds Orthoptics is very interesting because if you think about it, the eyes are an exposed extension of the brain so anything that’s going on systemically or in the brain can be identified just by looking at the eyes. We can help diagnose those conditions which would otherwise go unnoticed. I would recommend Orthoptics to anyone who is looking into going into healthcare. It’s a fantastic area of ophthalmology to go into, you see a wide variety of patients. It’s very rewarding looking at the pathway of patients from the initial treatment to discharge. I feel like Orthoptics bridges the gap between a lot of different parts of eyes.
Skip to 0 minutes and 44 seconds Quite often, we are the only ones who can figure out why a patient is getting double vision. It’s very rewarding actually when you have a double vision patient and you relieve them of that double vision within the clinic on the same day and they go home a lot more happier. It’s just an everchanging field, it’s quite an exciting time to be an Orthoptist. I think an Orthoptist is a fantastic career opportunity. First of all, you get to do something practical which is going to have a massive impact on somebodies life. You get to work in a multidisciplinary team with other people.
Skip to 1 minute and 21 seconds In contrast to some other NHS roles, it’s very much a 9-5 role, which I think is an advantage, especially for somebody who has family or caring commitments. You have autonomy, you’re able to have your own case load. You see all different kinds of patients, including those with special educational needs. There’s a lot of diversity in the role. You’re not limited to the UK, there are loads of places in the world you can go with an Orthoptic qualification. I have worked in other countries, it’s a good profession to get into. It’s also a good career to get into because you have loads of different avenues.
Skip to 2 minutes and 0 seconds Obviously, you’ll be a clinician, and then you can further develop your skills and specialise in lots of different areas in Ophthalmology. You can also go into research or management, there’s just so much you can do with your Orthoptic degree. Orthoptics is a multifaceted career and no two patients are quite the same. You might have a child with a lazy eye, and the next patient I see is an adult who have advanced glaucoma with significant vision loss. You really need to adapt to patients as you see them and really take it minute by minute, and that’s really interesting. Orthoptics is a bit of a niche career, but there’s no reason that should hold you back.
Skip to 2 minutes and 42 seconds What you need to do is learn and the more you understand, the more interesting everything becomes. It can be challenging, which is a good thing, and thought provoking, and you’ve made an important impact on patient’s lives.
