Your appointment at the orthoptic department (SCD pathway) at Ryegate Children’s Centre

Ryegate Children’s Centre

Your child has been seen by the neurodisability team at Ryegate as part of the communication clinic or social communication disorders pathway.

As part of that pathway we arrange an eye test and an appointment for you and your child to attend. The eye test will be done by an orthoptist who is a specialist in testing children’s eyes. They will check your child’s vision and find out if the eye muscles are working correctly.

What if my child is already under an eye service?

We have made every effort to avoid duplication by checking our system to make sure you are not already attending Ryegate or Sheffield Children’s eye department. We do not have access to other hospital or optometry practices. If you are already under the care of another department please let us know so we can cancel this appointment and offer it to someone else who is waiting.

Testing your child’s vision

It is important for us to test each eye separately to see if one eye is weaker than the other. A patch or some glasses may be used to cover one eye in order to do this. It would help if you could practice covering each eye in turn as a game before you come.

Your child’s vision is assessed by asking them to name or sign letters and pictures or match letters and pictures on a card or look at pictures or black and white stripes on a card. Other tests will be performed to assess how well the eyes work together. The emphasis is very much on ‘looking games’ rather than eye testing as a lot of information can be gained about a child’s vision by observing them in a play situation.

Examples of vision tests for young children include icons of animals and objects, with different levels of contrast.

What happens next?

If your child has an eye problem such as reduced vision, squint or a strong family history of vision issues, the orthoptist will discuss referral to the optometrist or consultant ophthalmologist on a different day either at Ryegate or at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

After your child’s examination

If the orthoptist finds your child’s eyes are normal they will be discharged. It may be necessary to continue to monitor your child’s vision. For example, if no problem was found but testing was incomplete and it is felt that testing at your local optometrist or school entry vision screening would not be possible.