Hospital Optometry & Orthoptic Services
The countywide ‘Department of Optometry and Orthoptics’ at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSF Trust was formally re-structured into one department on 1 September 2012.
The majority of the department’s clinical services are provided at Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals but a number of clinics are also held at peripheral, community hospitals across the county including, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Stroud, Dursley, Lydney and Tetbury.
A major part of the clinical work of the Hospital Optometrists is specialist, investigative and diagnostic assessments to support the ophthalmology services. These include performing post-operative cataract examinations, monitoring patients with suspect or stable glaucoma, assessing retinal/macular patients, diagnostic and paediatric refractions. We also provide a number of specialist optometrist services including low vision rehabilitation, diagnostic ocular ultrasound and complex contact lens fitting, including scleral contact lenses.
Orthoptists specialise in investigating, diagnosing and managing disorders of ocular motility and binocular vision. The majority of the clinical case load is comprised of patients with squint and amblyopia. The Orthoptists work closely with Mr John Ferris, Consultant Ophthalmic surgeon and recommend suitable patients for squint surgery. The Orthoptists also work closely with paediatric Optometrists in the management of children with squint. Some of the specialist clinics Orthoptists provide include; juvenile idiopathic arthritis clinics where patients are assessed for uveitis, pre-operative cataract A-Scan assessments and orthoptic specific learning difficulty clinics. Outside of the hospital setting, the department provides regular clinical services in special schools throughout Gloucestershire.
The department consists of a team of Optometrists, Pre-registration Optometrists, Orthoptists, Optometry Technicians and a Contact Lens Optician. A number of the clinical team work on a part-time basis and some optometrists work between the hospital and community practice.
If you have any queries relating to hospital optometry and/or orthoptics please contact the departmental administrator, Mrs Sherri Halil on: