You'll need to get a degree in orthoptics, approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.

There's a lot of competition for places on orthoptics degree courses, so you'll need to show an understanding and commitment to orthoptics before you apply.

Work experience

Before you apply for a course, you'll find it helpful to get some work experience in healthcare, for example in a local orthoptic department.

The British and Irish Orthoptics Society can also give you information on work shadowing opportunities.

NHS Learning Support Fund

As well as a student loan, you might be able to get financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 3 A levels, or equivalent, including at least 1 science

You'll need:

• the ability to work well with others
• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• thinking and reasoning skills
• knowledge of medicine and how the human body works
• to enjoy working with other people
• knowledge of English language
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Depending on where you work, as an orthoptist you could:

• diagnose squints, lazy eyes, reduced or double vision, and disorders
• manage conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, stroke, retinal disease and neurological disorders
• carry out vision tests on children
• suggest treatments like eye patches, eye exercises, contact lenses or low vision aids
• refer clients to other healthcare professionals like optometrists, eye surgeons and vision scientists

You could work in an NHS or private hospital or in the community.