Orthoptist
Orthoptics comes from the Greek word orthos meaning “straight” and optikos “relating to sight”.
Orthoptists are allied health professionals taking an average of 3 years to study. They are experts in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of eye movement disorders and how both eyes work together. This is known as binocular single vision. This can be caused by problems with the muscles around the eyes or defects in the nerves preventing the brain to communicate with the eyes. Orthoptist also specialise in children’s visual development.
Orthoptists are responsible for the diagnosis and non surgical management of strabismus (cross eyed/squint), amblyopia (lazy eye) and eye movement problems.
Orthoptists provide orthoptic treatment in the form of eye patches, eye exercises, prisms or spectacles. Most of our patients are children with strabismus (cross eyed/squints) and amblyopia (lazy eye) that usually need treatment during early childhood. Adults may also need assessment as strabismus (cross eyed/squints) and eye movement problems may develop at a later age and this may result in double vision. This can be monitored and managed by the orthoptist.
Orthoptist typical work in public or private hospitals independently and/or alongside optometrists and ophthalmologist. They are especially skilled to see children and patients with special educational needs.
Optometrist
Optometry comes from the Greek words opsis meaning “view” and metron meaning “measure”.
Optometrists are trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury and/or eye related diseases. They can also identify eye diseases caused by diabetes or high blood pressure.
All Optometrists are able to offer clinical advice, prescribe glasses or contact lenses and refer patients for further treatment.
Conditions they may treat include:
- Myopia – difficulty focussing on objects in the distance (Short sighted/farsightedness)
- Hypermetropia – difficulty focusing mainly at near objects but can also affect objects in the distance (Longsight/farsighted)
- Astigmatism – difficulty focussing for near and distance due to the curvature of the eye like a rugby ball
- Glaucoma – a condition which damages the main nerve supplying your vision known as the optic nerve leading to peripheral vision loss and eventually affecting your central vision.
Optometrists typically work in high street opticians, carrying out eye examinations, but some also work in hospitals and specialise in paediatric and special educational needs.
Read more about optometrists here
Ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology comes fromt the Greek word ophthalmos meaning “eye” and logia meaning “study”.
Ophthalmologists are physicians who typically complete an undergraduate degree, general medical school followed by a residency in ophthalmology. In Australia and New Zealand the training system takes place over 5 years of post graduate training.
Ophthalmologists are medically trained doctors that specialise in eye diseases and injuries. They act both as physicians, diagnosing, prescribing treatments, and perform operations.
Orthoptists will often work collaboratively with Ophthalmologists to investigate and manage diseases of the eyes, with Orthoptists specialising in non-surgical treatment. While Ophthalmologists, as medical doctors, are able to perform complex surgery and prescribe a wider range of medicines.
A brief list of some of the most common eye problems treated by ophthalmologists:
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Endophthalmitis
- Refractive errors
- Strabismus (deviation of eyes)
- Ptosis
- Uveitis
- Ocular trauma
- Ruptured globe injury
- Orbital fracture
- Dry eye syndrome
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Excessive tearing (tear duct obstruction)
- Proptosis (bulged eyes)
- Thyroid eye disease
- Eye tumour
- Diabetic retinopathy
Ophthalmologists typically work in eye hospitals within the eye department and some also work in the private sector.
Read more about ophthalmologists here