Patricia Lance Lecture – The Next Fifty Years in Orthoptics and Ocular Motility

Judy Seaber, c.o., PhD

To predict what may develop fifty years ahead for ocular motility and orthoptics we must look at current areas of experimental interest: neurophysiological modelling of visual processing, developmental aspects of strabismus/amblyopia, and chemo-therapy among others.  As modelling of the visual system proceeds, one may anticipate that it will soon be necessary to test concepts of normal processing in abnormal situations such as strabismus or visual deprivation.  We can expect to see emphasis upon psychophysical testing of all types of visual functions in the very young child as well as attention toward visual plasticity in adults  Such testing will involve increased use of electrophysiology as well as the development of additional clinical tests.  I predict that the role of the orthoptist will expand to encompass these new areas of diagnosis and documentation.