Course summary

Orthoptists specialise in diagnosing, managing and treating eye movement disorders and visual impairments. They work alongside optometrists, ophthalmologists, and other clinicians and allied health professionals to provide the very best care to patients of all ages. A degree in orthoptics from the University of Sheffield can take you in lots of directions in healthcare – from an NHS hospital or community eye clinic to a rehabilitation centre for patients with neurological conditions. What you’ll study Our orthoptics programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and designed to give you a deep understanding of the human eye and different eye conditions. We’ll lay the groundwork, introducing you to the basic anatomy and physiology of the human eye, before going on to explore topics such as ocular misalignment (strabismus), eye movement disorders, ocular diseases and medical microbiology. Throughout the course, you'll work closely with patients and clinicians, developing key interpersonal skills to help you flourish in any multidisciplinary eye care team. You’ll also learn how the NHS works, and explore topics such as medical ethics and law. Finally, you'll put everything you’ve learnt into practice with a research project or literature search on a topic that interests you. You might have the opportunity to present your findings at a conference or have your work published in a medical journal. Hands-on clinical experience We know how important hands-on experience is, which is why our course includes 33 weeks of clinical placement. You’ll work in orthoptic departments across the UK and Ireland, learning from the experts and spending vital time with patients with a range of eye disorders. Most often, you’ll be helping to treat children, the elderly and those with disabilities. The final year includes a two-week clinical placement in an orthoptic clinic of your choice.