Orthoptic stroke services in the UK and Ireland: how have they evolved?

Hepworth, LR ORCID: 0000-0001-8542-9815 and Rowe, FJ ORCID: 0000-0001-9210-9131 (2026) Orthoptic stroke services in the UK and Ireland: how have they evolved? Eye Basingstoke, 40 (5). pp. 654-660. ISSN 0950-222X, 1476-5454

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Abstract

Background: There are ~100,000 new strokes in the UK each year, 60% experience a new stroke-related visual impairment. Orthoptic stroke services were surveyed as baseline and follow-up in 2007 and 2017. Three new guidelines relating to post-stroke vision were published 2023–2025 and added to a mandatory national audit programme. This study aimed to assess the current provision of stroke orthoptic services since the 2016 National Clinical Guideline update through to 2023 updates. Methods: An online survey was circulated to registered orthoptists in the UK and Ireland. Results: A total of 206 responses representing 125 orthoptic departments (67% response rate) were received, from all five nations. Stroke vision services were reported to be provided by 66.1% of orthoptic departments in hospitals with a stroke unit, of which only 27.6% were funded. Services often rely on vision screening by the stroke team (84.2%) with referral to orthoptic services (65.8%), only half of which were reported to be using a validated screening tool. To cover a mean of 42.5 beds, a mean of 0.43 full-time equivalent orthoptic staffing dedicated to stroke care and 0.27 funded, with lower medians. Conclusions: Since 2017, stroke unit vision screening provision has increased, however over the same period a reduction occurred in funded services. Health inequality persists in that there remain areas with no/poor provision of post-stroke vision services. This study provides a baseline by which to assess change following the publication/updates of national and international guidelines and national audit programmes strengthening recommendations for post-stroke vision care.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Vision Disorders, Orthoptics, Ireland, Stroke, Surveys and Questionnaires, United Kingdom
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Primary Care & Mental Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Inst. Population Health (T&R Staff)
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	19 Jan 2026 10:58
Last Modified:	01 Apr 2026 10:43
DOI:	10.1038/s41433-026-04243-4
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3196666
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