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Orthoptics Awareness Week 2025

This week from 2 to 6 June is Orthoptics Awareness Week, where we celebrate the vital work our Orthoptists do for Clients. We sat down with Vince Nguyen, Community Orthoptist and Practice Lead (Low Vision Orthoptics) at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to talk about all things Orthoptics and finish the sentence, “I am an Orthoptist because…”
“I want to help people as much as I can,” says Vince. Becoming an Orthoptist was an easy choice for him, as he’s a nurturing and supportive person by nature. Vince wanted to get into the healthcare field to have a positive impact on the community. Whenever he travels to a Client’s home, discusses their goals and makes recommendations based on what they want to achieve, he always leaves with the satisfaction of knowing he’s made their life that much easier.
Vince’s average day working at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT varies. Travelling to visit Clients around Northern NSW is one of the highlights of Vince’s role, as he assesses their vision in their home environment rather than a controlled space like a clinic. Having a chat with the Client about their goals and eye history is the first thing Vince does, before testing their vision in a functional and practical way. Orthoptists want to understand how their Clients use their remaining vision around their home, so they can recommend practical tools and guidance to help them continue to access information in their daily lives, like reading the newspaper, using their phone, reading a recipe, or watching television.
One of the best parts of Vince’s job is when he witnesses one of his Client’s achieve the goal they set out to accomplish at the beginning of their appointments. He also loves talking to Clients about their daily lives. “Every time I walk into a Client’s home, they always ask ‘would you like a coffee?’ We sit and have a chat and I learn about the history of their area. It’s that human connection that I love most about working at Guide Dogs.”
If you would like to learn more about our Low Vision Orthoptics service, call 1800 484 333 or make an enquiry about our vision services.