Orthoptics Career Pathways
Once qualified, Orthoptists in the UK typically start a band 5 graduate/preceptorship role. Within this first role, they aim to build on the Orthoptic knowledge they gained at university, whilst being exposed to a wide variety of different conditions and patients. The aim of this role is to get the Orthoptist to a place where they can work autonomously and confidently within the job plan of an Orthoptist. There is no set time limit to staying within this role, but typically Orthoptists will look to further their skills after about a year to 18 months of being qualified.
The next role the Orthoptist typically moves into is the ‘Specialist Orthoptist’ role, which is usually a band 6 position. This role involves more clinical decision making than being a band 5. It may also involve training in an extended role. There are many extended roles that an Orthoptist can move into. Some examples of this include: glaucoma, medical retina, paediatric ophthalmology, uveitis/JIA clinics. Some Orthoptists may also want to be involved with Botox clinics. For this role further learning and training may be required. This may involve a postgraduate or masters course. There is no set time limit for being a band 6 Orthoptist.
Progressing to band 7 in Orthoptics looks different depending on the experience you have gained as a band 6 and how you would like your career to progress. There is the option of moving into a more managerial role as a Lead Orthoptist, which may involve supervising technicians/early year orthoptists or leading a service (such as vision screening, stroke, community sites). This position will involve more admin and representing your department in meetings. Alternative, there is also the opportunity to progress as an Advanced Orthoptist. This is typically an Orthoptist with many years of varied experience and is able to provide support to more junior members of the team. Typically, Orthoptists will choose to specialise in a particular speciality, for example: medical retina injections, glaucoma, adult ocular motility, stroke, paediatrics. More recently, there has also been the opportunity for Orthoptists to develop their skills as Advanced Clinical Practitioners, both within Ophthalmology and the wider the hospital setting.
Head Orthoptists are the lead for the Orthoptics service at any hospital. They are typically supported by Deputy Head Orthoptists (usually a band 7 or 8). Head Orthoptists are very experienced in both clinical and managerial aspects of Orthoptics, and are usually the representative for the Orthoptics service within their hospitals.
Your career as an Orthoptist is unique to you. There are many options and opportunities to progress in different ways, and the exciting thing is Orthoptics continues to evolve. The future for Orthoptics is very exciting at the moment as Orthoptists are now at the forefront of Ophthalmology teams and are trusted to lead and develop services. Over the past few years, we have seen Orthoptists working in Eye casualty, in cornea, uveitis, cataracts. Orthoptists are also found in Ophthalmology operating theatres as assistants. The best way to find your area of interest is to explore. Work with your Head Orthoptist to experience as much of what your eye clinic has to offer and find where you could see yourself and develop, whether that is in a speciality or in a leading role in Orthoptics.
