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.

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.

All appointments are handled via our central appointments service. 

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