The Barnet paediatric orthoptics service aims to prevent the occurrence of visually impairing disease through effective screening and treatment.

The team consists of orthoptists, optometrists, healthcare assistants and administrative staff.

The service aims to reduce the visual impact of established diseases through vision screening for vision impairment in children aged four to five years, followed by appropriate treatment.

The service operates on a referral system via:

• vision screening failure referrals
• electronic referral system – (GPs, Opticians)
• health visitors
• school nurses – surveillance screening
• paediatricians

Referrers and patients can contact the service by phone: 020 8447 3524

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

Children over six months to 16 years with:

• family history of squints, lazy eyes, and glasses under age of 10
• problems with visual following
• manifest squint
• any concerns regarding children's vision, squint, abnormal head posture or ptosis
• children needing statementing and need full eye exam
• referrals of primary and surveillance vision screening failures
• optometry referrals with any of above problems

Exclusions

• babies under the age of six months
• retinoblastoma
• congenital cataracts or leukocoria
• nystagmus
• any abnormality/asymmetry with eye size
• absence of red reflex
• premature babies who weighed under 1500 grams
• albinism affecting eyes
• any eye injury
• severe headaches
• watery eyes
• lids and lumps (chalazion, sty etc.)
• home visits

How to Refer

Locations

Vale Drive Primary Care Centre

Oak Lane Clinic

Grahame Park Health Centre