Orthoptics

Master of Orthoptics

Orthoptists are allied health professionals and key members of the medical eye care team who prevent, manage and research disorders of the eye and vision systems. They have particular expertise in the assessment and treatment of binocular vision (use of the two eyes as a pair).

Orthoptists support patients who have visual problems associated with conditions such as stroke and head injury, work with blind and partially sighted people and treat children with lazy eyes, including conditions such as amblyopia and strabismus.

Orthoptists assist in the assessment of patients with eye diseases and are skilled in many of the exacting diagnostic and treatment procedures related to disorders of the eye and visual system such as testing peripheral vision, ultrasonography, biometry, assisting in minor surgery and prescription of glasses and eye exercises.

The program aims to prepare graduates for registration with the Australian Orthoptic Board in order to be able to practise in Australia and may be completed on a full-time basis over two years.

Students should be aware that course requirements for clinical units of study can be spread over 48 weeks of the year and that some clinical placements are offered in regional, rural and interstate locations in block mode. Some local placements are also offered in block mode. Compulsory clinical briefing session can also be held outside the normal semester dates.

Admission requirements

• Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an institution recognised by the University of Sydney.
• International students whose bachelor degree was not conducted in English will be required to have an average IELTS score of 7.0.

If the prior bachelor's degree did not include general human anatomy and physiology, students are advised to contact the course director to discuss how they might address background knowledge (phone +61 2 9351 9464).

Course outline

The course outline for the Master of Orthoptics is presented in Table 15.1. Unit of study descriptions and a list of faculty electives are provided in Chapter 20.

Table 15.1: Master of Orthoptics

Table 15.2: Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences

Course rules