Mission Statement :
To provide quality and equitable care delivered safely by skilled and valued staff, through the best use of available resources

Location :
GROUND FLOOR IN OPD 5 (EYE CLINIC)

What we do?

• Orthoptists are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of ocular motility and problems relating to vision. Some examples of these problems are:
• Amblyopia (lazy eye), which is a reduction in vision arising from a defect present in infancy or early childhood that prevents the eye from receiving adequate visual stimulation.
• Defective binocular vision, which is the inability to use the two eyes together in the correct way and which leads to impairment of depth perception.
• Abnormal eye movements arising from injury or disease affecting the eye muscles or the nerve supplying the muscles, or a physical obstruction to eye movement.
• Diplopia (double vision) resulting from abnormal eye movements or strabismus (squint).

Orthoptists are recognised as the specialists in childhood vision screening, and are skilled in performing, and in the interpretation of, a variety of diagnostic procedures where an underlying ophthalmological condition exists. Some examples are:

• Perimetry (assessment of field of vision)
• Tonometry (measurement of the pressure inside the eye).
• Fundus photography (photography of the retina).
• Biometry (measurement of the length of the eye and the curvature of the cornea).
• Electro-diagnosis
• Low vision aids  

Orthoptists need to have highly developed levels of manual, communicative and analytical skills. Their expertise extends to patients with special needs, specific learning difficulties, maxillo-facial injuries, Stroke, low vision and neurological conditions.

Techniques of diagnosis and treatment

The Orthoptist can establish whether the defect is recent in onset and may consequently have neurological implications.

Treatment techniques available to the Orthoptist include:

• Use of occlusion to reduce the visual input into one eye, either in the form of an eye patch, cycloplegic drug, or lenses, in order to improve visual acuity.
• Use of prisms to control double vision or correct strabismus.
• Use of lenses to alter the angle of strabismus, by changing the amount of focusing power needed.
• Use of exercises, both in the clinic and at home, to improve the ability of the eyes to alter their relative positions.

During treatment time, a patient is under the care of an orthoptist; consultation and discussion with the ophthalmologist may be necessary.

Patient /client groups
The orthoptist has a particular interest and expertise in the very young and the elderly as these have a higher incidence of ocular pathology.

Orthoptists undertake vision screening in young children to detect defects such as a reduction in visual acuity in one or both eyes, small angle strabismus that may be difficult for parents to detect.

Children and adults with special needs have a higher incidence of visual defects.

Orthoptists investigate the state of the visual fields in all age groups of patients with head injury, brain tumours, and systemic conditions, monitoring and interpreting their fields on a regular basis for any subtle changes.

The impact of orthoptics
An ocular disability, perhaps initially slight, can become a major visual handicap if not promptly identified and treated.

Orthoptists also work closely with other professionals within the HSE, education, social services, and the voluntary sector on a one-to-one basis and within multi-disciplinary teams.

How to access this service:
THE SERVICE CAN BE ACCESSED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY-REFERRAL CAN BE MADE BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONALC eg OPHTHALMOLOGIST,G.P.,P.H.N.

Opening hours:
MONDAY TO FRIDAY  (9AM TO 5 PM)

Contact Numbers:
DEPARTMENT SECRETARY- 051 842437