Master of Orthoptics

My name is Nikita and I'm studying the Master of Orthoptics at UTS. I grew up in Sydney and I've always had an interest in science. I studied all the way through high school and I did my undergraduate in medical science. So I've always had a passion for that field.

My understanding of Orthoptics was that it's a form of eye therapy. And since doing the course, I've learned that the field's much broader than that, and they deal with pre and post-operative care and lots of diagnostic roles as well. The role is also expanded to treating pathological conditions in eyecare. Orthoptics has been a really exciting experience.

The profession allows me to merge my two interests in science and patient care. I get to work with the patients one-on-one and it's a really good field for me to be able to give back to the community, through helping people.

My interest in Orthoptics first sparked when my brother was receiving treatment as a child, as I continued the course, it was really interesting to see how the pathology behind his condition and how we treat children is through games and through fun activities but it's actually a way to maintain the child's vision.

The master of orthoptics is a two year postgraduate course. They combine your theoretical classes with placement while you're completing the course. So it's a really good way to apply what you're learning in the classroom into the field almost immediately.

I am passionate about rural and remote patient care. I had the opportunity recently to go to Royal Darwin hospital for placement. And in the month that I was there, we were able to treat patients as if we were clinicians and supported by the entire hospital staff. And it was a really wonderful opportunity to see conditions that you wouldn't necessarily see in a metropolitan setting like Sydney.

The job prospects for orthoptics range, from research to working in private clinics or in public hospitals and for Orthoptists at the moment with an ageing population, there's an increasing demand for us in the field.

My advice to students, if they have an interest in patient care and an interest in science, this is a beautiful way to merge those two industries and, uh, definitely apply.