About our service

Working alongside medical, nursing, photography and support staff in ophthalmology, we provide expert care to diagnose, measure and treat disorders of eye movements, coordination of the eyes (binocular vision) and vision. Orthoptists treat patients of all ages including patients with strabismus (squints / lazy eyes) and neurological conditions such as stroke or multiple sclerosis. Our service also provides specialist support services in low vision (providing visual aids including magnifiers) and also specialist services for people who have had strokes.

How to access our services

You can access our services via your GP, a school nurse or your opticians. Urgent access is also available through the Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) via the ophthalmology urgent care service. 

Our clinics run daily across our main sites (Bishop Auckland Hospital, Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham) and satellite clinics run on set days in Chester-le-Street Community Hospital, Shotley Bridge Hospital and at Stanley Primary Care Centre.

Clinics run between 8.30am to 12 midday and 1pm to 4pm. Monday to Friday.

Meet the team

Get in touch

All appointments are handled via our central appointments service. 

If you have a clinical query, you can contact our Orthoptic answering service by telephone: 

If we are unavailable to take your call, please leave a message and we will get back to you.  

How did we do?

You can share your feedback about the Orthoptic service in the CDDFT Friends and Family Test.

Patient information

Useful videos

Super Eyes: All about patching

In this video from the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS), Olivia visits the orthoptist and learns all about patching and how it can help train a weaker eye to see better.

You can find out more about occlusion therapy, with patches and eye drops, on the BIOS website. 

Super Eyes 2: Patching and your life

In this video from the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS), Khadija has been given her very first patch. Watch as she follows her special training plan, learning new strategies to develop her super eyes!

You can find out more about occlusion therapy, with patches and eye drops, on the BIOS website. 

Durham eye care service for people with learning disabilities

In this video from the Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, find out more about a special eye care service for people with learning disabilities in Durham.