Orthoptic Health: Common Vision Problems in Australia and How to Manage Them

Our eyes are one of our most complex and incredible organs. They allow us to experience the world, enjoy art, film and literature, and navigate obstacles in our daily lives. Unfortunately, many of us take our eye health for granted. That is until we experience an eye health problem that makes us realise how precious and fragile the health of our eyes can be. In this article, we’ll go over the field of orthoptics. We’ll explain what orthoptics is, how it differs from other eye specialists (such as ophthalmologists) and how you can protect your eye health in your daily life. We’ll also go over some of the most common eye health conditions affecting Australians, and what treatment, management and support options exist if you or a loved one is affected by an eye disorder.

What Is Orthoptics?

Orthoptics is a field of healthcare whose practitioners are university trained to assess and treat patients with various eye disorders. Orthoptists typically work across a range of medical settings, including specialist eye clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and research centres.

Orthoptics specifically focus on diagnosing, treating and managing eye disorders through non-surgical procedures. Orthoptists may be involved in rehabilitation following eye surgery, but do not perform surgeries. Orthoptic professionals frequently work with other eye specialists including ophthalmologists and optometrists to offer a holistic and comprehensive approach to managing eye conditions. 

Orthoptist vs Ophthalmologist vs Optometrist: What Is the Difference?

Orthoptics is just one of several types of eye health specialists. Others include optometrists and ophthalmologists. Whilst they often work closely together and share some similarities, they are quite different in their scope of practice. If you or a loved one live with a chronic eye condition, you will likely see at least one of these types of eye specialists in your treatment journey. Knowing the difference between orthoptists, ophthalmologists and optometrists can help you feel more empowered and informed in managing your eye condition.

Orthoptists are eye health professionals who assess, care for and provide non-surgical treatment for patients with a range of eye disorders.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have completed additional studies to specialise in eye diseases, including eye surgery.

Optometrists are primary care providers for eye health. Optometrists are often the first point of call and primarily prescribe glasses, screen for eye disease and make referrals to orthoptists or ophthalmologists. 

Eye Health in Australia

Visual impairments refer to the partial or full loss of vision in one or both eyes. Eye health conditions are quite common in Australia and can have serious impacts on your quality of life, especially if it is not well managed. 

Based on national self-reported data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 13 million Australians live with at least one long-term (chronic) eye health condition. This is almost half of Australia’s total population of around 25.7 million. Eye conditions may affect even more people than this, as some people may not notice the subtle decline in eye function until the disorder has become quite advanced. 

Vision loss or impairment can be caused by a wide range of eye disorders. Some of the more common eye conditions in Australia include the following.

Refractive Error Eye Conditions

Refractive error describes a type of eye condition which causes blurry vision. It is a common type of eye condition in which the eye cannot clearly focus. Refractive error eye conditions include:

• Hyperopia – also known as long-sightedness or far-sightedness, hyperopia is when the eye is unable to focus on nearby objects. This is because light rays entering the eye are brought to focus behind the retina. Around 7.2 million Australians live with hyperopia. 
• Myopia – myopia describes a condition where the eye cannot focus on distant objects. Far off objects appear blurry, often because rays of light entering the eye are focussed in front of the retina. Myopia is also known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness. Myopia affects around 6.3 million Australians.
• Astigmatism – astigmatism describes an irregular curve of the eye’s anterior (front) surface. This optical defect causes blurred vision as the eye’s optics cannot focus on an object into a sharp image on the retina. Astigmatism affects around 1.4million Australians.
• Presbyopia – an age-related eye condition in which the eye’s lens loses elasticity. Presbyopia causes a type of long-sightedness as the condition progresses and affects around 687,000 Australians.

Other common eye conditions include the following.

• Colour blindness – affecting about 549,000 Australians, colour blindness usually results in difficulties identifying the colours green, yellow, orange and red.
• Cataract – a degenerative eye condition that affects around 411,000 Australians. Cataracts cloud the eye lens, obstructing light to enter the eye. Cataracts can cause partial or total blindness and is often treated with cataract surgery.
• Macular degeneration – affecting 244,000 Australians, macular degeneration is a progressive deterioration of the retina (the inner lining of the central eye). It is more likely with older age and can cause loss of central vision.
• Blindness (partial or complete) – 131,000 Australians live with complete of partial blindness. There is no one definition for blindness but is often used to describe an eye disorder for which treatment will not restore vision. In Australia, legal blindness is defined as best-corrected visual acuity of 6/60 or below in whichever eye has better vision.

Eye Care: How to Protect and Care For Your Eye Health

Prevention is often the greatest cure, so it is important to take good care of our eyes throughout our lifespan and not just when issues start to arise. Whilst not all eye conditions can be prevented, their things we can all do to better care for and protect our eye health.

Use Eye Protection

Wearing protective equipment like goggles or face shields can prevent harmful particles from entering the eye. This is particularly important when playing certain sports, using tools in the home or garden, or when cleaning using chemicals. Some jobs also have greater risks of eye injury such as construction workers, plumbers and woodworkers. Make sure you always use eye protection in dangerous scenarios.

Protect Your Eyes From UV Light Exposure

Sun damage is not only a hazard to your skin. UV light exposure from the sun can damage the eyes and lead to conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Ensure you wear a hat and sunglasses with good UV protection when outdoors.

Keep Your Hands Clean

Dust and other particles can cause eye infections if you rub or touch your eyes with dirty hands. Make sure you wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before or after touching your eyes.

Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes

Even if you practice good hand hygiene, it’s a good idea to avoid rubbing your eyes as it can lead to infection. If your eyes are itchy or irritated, rubbing will usually only make it worse. Try other solutions like eye drops or an eye bath rather than rubbing your eyes with your hands.

Know and Avoid Your Triggers

Everyone will have slightly different triggers that can cause eye irritation or discomfort. Common triggers relate to allergies, including dust, pollen, fur and some foods. Try to avoid these triggers where possible and wear sunglasses outside to prevent pollen from entering the eye.

Practice Good Eye Hygiene

Eye hygiene is important to avoid spreading infections. Avoid sharing personal items like towels, face towels, makeup and contact lenses.

Cleaning Your Eyes

It’s normal for most people to experience some discharge from the eyes on occasion. To safely remove this discharge, use a clean cotton pad soaked in water. Use a fresh pad for each eye and always clean from the inner eye outward to protect your eyes.

Soothing Your Eyes

If you have irritated eyes, try soothing them with a cold compress. Soak a clean cloth or towel in very cool water to place over your eyes and soothe irritation.

Contact Lenses Management

If you wear contact lenses, it is important to take good care of them. Always follow the directions for use on your contact lenses, and take extra care when inserting or removing them. Make sure your hands are clean before removing, inserting or adjusting your contact lenses. Remove contact lenses before going to bed and avoid wearing them for excessively long periods of time. 

Sore Eyes and Contact Lenses

If you wear contact lenses and notice your eyes are sore, remove your contact lenses until no discomfort remains. See your optometrist if eye soreness does not improve. Infections and irritations related to contact lenses can become serious if untreated.

Don’t Look Directly at the Sun

Your eyes are extremely sensitive to the strong UV rays of the sun. Never look directly at the sun, and if you are outside for an extended time period ensure you always wear UV-protecting sunglasses.

Be Mindful of Your Screen Time

Device screens like computers, smartphones, tablets and television emit their own type of light that can fatigue the eyes. Make sure your device screens are at least arm’s length away from your eyes and that your environment is well lit without any reflections on the screen. Take a break from your screen every 20 minutes and rest your eyes by looking at something 6 metres away for 20 seconds.

Get Regular Eye Tests

Eye tests are a fast and easy way to catch any signs of eye damage early. Eye tests are free for Medicare cardholders in Australia. Most adults should get their eyes tested every two years. If you are 60 years or older, have diabetes or have a family history of eye disease, speak to your optometrist about getting eye tests more regularly.

Manage Your Diabetes

Diabetes is often associated with an increased risk of developing some eye conditions. Managing your blood sugar and blood pressure can help prevent or slow down damage to the eye related to diabetes. Make sure you have regular eye tests and avoid smoking if you have diabetes.

Avoid Smoking and Second-Hand Smoke

Smoking increases your risk of several types of eye disease, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, thyroid eye disease and general eye irritations. Try to avoid or cut down on smoking and reach out to Quitline on 13 7848 or talk to your doctor for support to quit smoking. Second-hand or passive smoking can cause dry eyes and increase your risk of some eye conditions. Try to avoid exposure to other people’s cigarette smoke or wear sunglasses to limit smoke entering your eyes.

Eat a Nutritious Diet and Be Physically Active

Consuming a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods and exercising regularly can help protect your eye health. Foods rich in antioxidants (like green leafy vegetables), omega 3 fatty acids (flaxseed or fatty fish), vitamin C (kiwifruit and bell peppers), vitamin E (almonds), zinc (fortified foods and oysters or red meat), and selenium (brazil nuts) may help prevent macular degeneration.

See an Eye Specialist if You Have Concerns

Many eye disorders are degenerative and can become worse over time, especially if untreated and unmanaged. It is important to see a specialist, such as an orthoptist as soon as you suspect you may be experiencing poor eye health. You can seek a referral or advice from your general practitioner or go directly to an orthoptist in a specialist setting. Orthoptists will assess your symptoms and make recommendations to alleviate symptoms and improve vision. This may or may not include seeking additional support from other specialists such as ophthalmologists.

What to Expect at an Orthoptic Appointment

If you have concerns about your eye health and function, an orthoptist will often be your first point of call. You can find an orthoptist in a range of settings including public hospitals, specialist eye clinics, vision rehabilitation facilities and universities and affiliated research units.

During your appointment, your orthoptist will conduct an assessment and recommend some options for treatment.

Orthoptic Assessments:

• Visual acuity tests (determines the smallest text you can read on a standardised chart)
• Eye movement tests (tests your eye movement across 9 different gaze positions)
• Cover test (identifies squinting or eye misalignments)
• Stereopsis test (measures your depth perception and 3D vision)

Orthoptic Treatment and Management Options:

• Vision therapy
• Orthoptic therapy
• Vision rehabilitation
• Patching
• Rehabilitation programs
• Orthoptic exercises

Where to Get Support to Identify and Manage Your Eye Condition

If you are unsure where to get started with managing your eye health, your family General Practitioner is always a good place to start. If you already have an orthoptist or eye specialist, they should be your first point of call with any questions or concerns. For general advice and support, you can also contact Orthoptics Australia by calling (03) 9895 4463.

Homage Mobility Service – How We Can Help

It is so important not to skip your regular medical appointments when managing your eye condition. We understand that the time investment, cost and inconvenience of travelling to your doctor can make life more difficult, and we are here to help. Our Patient Transport & Medial Escort service provides you with a professionally trained, caring staff member to support you to get to and from important appointments, so you can focus on more important things. Some people with vision impairments have additional challenges with transportation, including navigating public transport or an inability to drive a private car. Take the hard work out of your medical appointments and contact us for an obligation-free chat about how we can help today.