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Sweden

The Swedish Orthoptic Society (SIOF) is an association for orthoptists working in Sweden. The association was founded in 1980 and has, at present, 110 members. Sweden’s very first orthoptist began working in 1958, and the numbers gradually increased throughout the 60’s. These orthoptists had been trained in England, Germany or Switzerland. The Swedish Orthoptic Training School was then founded in 1973 and became co-Nordic in 1977. The training is now at degree level, and is based at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Orthoptists in Sweden may work for the national health service, or in private practice, either in cooperation with ophthalmologists or independently in their own clinics.

The orthoptist examines, diagnoses and treats children with amblyopia (reduced/under stimulated vision), as well as children and adults with squints and problems with binocular vision, which can be due to latent squint or neurological disorders. Some orthoptists provide assistance during squint surgery. The orthoptist can also be responsible for screening-sessions at local children’s clinics, enabling early diagnosis of amblyopia and squint, and therefore more effective treatment. Orthoptists are also encouraged to become involved in research.

The normal working week in Sweden is 40 hours, with at least 5 weeks annual holiday, plus national holidays. Salary is determined individually.

Each year, SIOF awards a grant from Gert Aurell’s Trust Fund. Ophthalmologist Gert Aurell was the pioneer for orthoptic training in Sweden.

SIOF also has a representative in the “Standing Liaison Committee of Orthoptists within the European Community” (OCE)

Job opportunities are looking very positive over the next 10 years as many orthoptists are nearing retirement.

Sweden is a beautiful country, from the snow-covered mountains in the north to the green fields in the south; it has a lot to offer the sport and nature lover.

The Swedish Orthoptic Society

Norway

The Norwegian Orthoptic Society has 40 members and was founded in 1975. The title of Orthoptist has been protected in Norway since 1999, and orthoptists are authorised health personnel. 

Orthoptists work quite independently in Norway, diagnosing, assessing, and treating children and adults who have squint, amblyopia and neurological conditions, as well as evaluating patients for squint surgery.

An orthoptist can work in an eye department or in private practice. A normal working week is 37.5 hours, with 5 weeks annual holiday.

In order to be able to work in Norway, an application for authorisation must be made to the "Helsedirektoratet"

/www.helsedirektoratet.no.

There are several vacancies at present.

Norway does not have its own orthoptic training. The Swedish training at the Karolinske Institutet in Stockholm is for the whole Nordic area.

Norway is a very elongated country. In the northern part the midnight sun shines in the summer, and in the winter there is a dark period with no sun. It is not unusual to have snowfall all over the country in wintertime.

Denmark

DMOF (Dansk Medicinsk Ortoptisk Forening) is a danish society formed by Orthoptists and supporting Ophthalmologists. At present there are 20 active Orthoptic members and approximately 100 Ophthalmologists.

The Society was founded on 23rd of April 1978, and has since then, arranged annual meetings, often guested by an internationally renowned Orthoptist or a Strabologist.

The Society also aims to inform students about orthoptic training, and has since 1989 been a member of OCE.

The title is not protected in Denmark. There is no orthoptic training in Denmark, so Orthoptists in Denmark have received their training abroad. During the training Danish students receive a grant from Denmark.

An Orthoptist may work in a hospital or in an Ophthalmological practice in the primary sector. The working hours vary. Standard is 37 hrs/week. You are entitled to 6 weeks holiday per year if employed full time.

In Order to work in Denmark you can apply to an ophthalmological department, or directlys to a practicing Ophthalmologist. It is a great advantage if you can speak a Nordic language, although many Danes speak English.

The Working prospects in Denmark should be good within the next 10 years, as some of the Orthoptists employed at present will soon be reaching retirement age.

For further information : www.dmof.dk 

Finland

There are 5 orthoptists in Finland, and is therefore lacking its own orthoptic society. 

Finlands orthoptists are members of SIOF.

The Finnish orthoptists participate as observers in the SOA . 

At present three of the orthoptists are employed in Finland; twowork at Helsingfors University Hospital and one works for the National Society for the Visually Impaired

For further information, please contact:  

kaija.aalto(at)hus.fi

samuel.runolinna(at)hus.fi

tuula.kaariainen(at)nkl.fi