Hindsight: The Development of Orthoptics in Australia 1931-60

Abstract

This thesis explores the development of orthoptic education, orthoptic clinical practice and its professional association chronologically in the early period of the profession from 1931-60 and aims to add to the historiography of allied health care in Australia. My objective is to answer the basic questions of how and why changes and developments in orthoptic practice, orthoptic education and in the professional association came to be made and how these developments were influenced by the profession being all-female. It will be shown that by 1960, orthoptic education was run by orthoptists and the practice and science of orthoptics had advanced, mainly due to the research conducted by orthoptists themselves. The professional association, the Orthoptic Association of Australia (now Orthoptics Australia), established and run by orthoptists, had been operating for 16 years and it had fulfilled its main objective to further the science of orthoptics for the benefit of its patients and for the continuing education of its workforce. Despite opposition from some ophthalmologists who did not value orthoptic therapy, the all-female workforce had established Australian orthoptics as world-class. 1960 was chosen as the endpoint because by that date the practice of orthoptics was changing. Orthoptists were being urged by ophthalmologist to widen their scope of practice, to continue with their management of eye movement disorders and to add examinations of a wider range of ocular problems. These changes in practice took place over the following decade.