Orthoptics

Orthoptics is the diagnosis, management and treatment of strabismus (squint), eye movement disorders and visual development anomalies.

Conditions seen in the orthoptic clinics include:

Amblyopia (lazy eye): Amblyopia is reduced vision in one or both eyes despite no structural abnormality of the eye. Amblyopia occurs in childhood and may be caused by a squint, high refractive error in each eye, unequal refractive errors and by conditions that deprive the eyes of visual input such as cataracts and droopy eyelids (ptosis). Treatment includes eye patches (occlusion) and eye drops (atropine penalisation).

Adult and paediatric squints:  Squints are a misalignment of the eyes. Treatment may include glasses, botulinum toxin and surgery.

Eye movement disorders: Eye movement disorders may be caused by injury, disease, neurological or congenital disorder which affects the eye muscles or nerves supplying these muscles.

Binocular diplopia (double vision): Binocular diplopia (double vision) may occur in the presence of eye movement disorders or squint. Treatment may include eye exercises, glasses and prisms, botulinum toxin or eye muscle surgery.

Binocular vision defects: Binocular vision defects are an inability to use both eyes together.

We offer a range of services, including:

Adult and paediatric orthoptic appointments: These appointments will be at Epsom and St Helier hospitals. Including inpatient assessments on the stroke wards.

Paediatric refraction clinics:  These appointments will be at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

School vision screening: These screenings take place in reception classes in the London Borough of Merton. 

Specific learning difficulties/visual stress assessments: Specific learning difficulties assessments, including visual symptoms which may be associated with dyslexia, take place at St Helier hospital. Some people, such as dyslexics, experience difficulties learning to read. The orthoptist will assess binocular vision (ability to use both eyes together), accommodation (ability of the eyes to focus) and tracking (ability to follow a line of writing) and discuss any visual discomfort and distortions associated with reading. Treatment may include exercises and/or coloured overlays.

Visual field clinics: Visual field clinics are held at St Helier and Epsom hospitals. If you are only attending for a visual fields test you will not require drops. If you have a copy of your current glasses prescription please bring this to your appointment.

Low Vision Aid (LVA) clinics: These appointments will be at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.