30 April 2026
A Master’s student leading a research project exploring the confidence of optometrists in assessing and managing binocular vision is inviting practitioners to take part in a survey.
The study, which aims to support the delivery of more consistent patient care for binocular vision across practice, is being led by Amina Bashir, a qualified orthoptist who is completing her Master’s in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Manchester.
Drawing on her clinical background, Bashir developed the dissertation project after observing referral patterns during undergraduate orthoptic placements in hospitals across the UK that led to questions about how binocular vision conditions are managed between primary and secondary care currently.
She noted that some patients were referred into hospital services with conditions such as convergence insufficiency, which can often be managed within community practice, while others presented with issues such as monocular diplopia, which are, typically, outside orthoptic scope.
These experiences prompted her to set up the survey to explore whether optometrists’ confidence in managing binocular vision varies depending on setting and experience, and how this influences clinical decision-making.
The research project seeks to assess if there are measurable variations in confidence among optometrists when it comes to binocular vision.
Bashir told OT that while anecdotal evidence suggests differences exist, there is currently little published data to support this.
She added: “The findings could inform targeted educational support or postgraduate training in binocular vision, similar to existing pathways in areas such as low vision.”
The survey is open to fully qualified UK-based optometrists who are registered with the GOC. It is open now and will close on 30 June, and can be taken here.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to join the discussion. Log in