Definitions

Orthoptists are specially trained professionals who are experts at assessing children’s eyes.  There is an Orthoptic Department in Ninewells Hospital and also in Perth Royal Infirmary.  They work closely with the hospital optometrists (opticians), and also the eye doctors (ophthalmologists).

The orthoptists are experts in assessing children’s vision, detecting squints and making sure your child’s eyes are working together.

For more information visit the British and Irish Orthoptic Society webpage www.orthoptics.org.uk and click on the link for patients.

An optometrist is also known as an ophthalmic optician.  The hospital based optometrists work with the orthoptists and are specially trained at assessing the health of the inside of the eye and also assessing children for glasses.  The glasses assessment is known as a refraction.

The eye doctors carry out eye clinics throughout Tayside; Perth Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital, Arbroath Infirmary, Links Health Centre in Montrose, Stracathro Hospital, and Whitehills Community Care Centre in Forfar. A paediatric doctor specialises in assessing children’s eyes but all ophthalmologists can assess children. 

One eye does not see as well as the other.  Lazy eye does NOT mean a squint.  Amblyopia can be caused by a squint or your child can have amblyopia caused by the need for a stronger prescription with one eye.

If this is not treated can lead to permanently reduced vision in one eye.

More information on how the orthoptists treat a lazy eye.

This is the medical name for a glasses assessment.  To do this accurately at this age the optometrist/ophthalmologist will put eye drops into your child’s eyes.  The eye drops (cyclopentolate) allows the optometrist/ophthalmologist to carry out the refraction (assessment for glasses) and also allows him/her to fully assess the health of your child’s eye.

For more information on eye drops please read the attached information leaflet.

A squint is when one eye does not look straight ahead.  One eye may turn inwards (convergent squint) or it may turn outwards (divergent squint).  Any size of squint can affect how the eye “sees” causing amblyopia.