Andrea Franzan, MSc
Orthoptist; Head of Degree Program Orthoptics
+43 1 606 68 77-4601
andrea.franzan@fh-campuswien.ac.at
As with ophthalmologists, orthoptists our concerned with our eyes. Vision disorders, strabismus, amblyopia or ocular palsies are common. The spectrum is still much wider: visual impairment, nystagmus or eye-related abnormal head postures, headaches and reading disorders. The eyes are not always the cause. Also, brain damage or neurological and internal diseases affect vision and require expertise in an interdisciplinary interface. In the degree program you will learn everything about the complex visual system as well as the eye as a sensory organ and possible connections to eye diseases and vision disorders.
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies (BSc) incl. professional qualifications
Tuition fee pro semester
€ 363,361
+ ÖH premium + contribution2
Currently no application possible
20
1 Tuition fees for students from third countries € 727,- per semester
2 for additional study expenses (currently up to € 83,- depending on degree program and year)
When you "look people in the eyes", you do so with a strong interest in medicine and science. Your excellent powers of observation allow you to recognize details. You want to help people of all ages with vision disorders. You take the time to provide extensive counseling and provide patients with clear and convincing information about possible therapies. You want to apply your strong communicative and social skills in your constant interaction with people and enjoy working in a team. You want to profit from the latest findings from science and research in your work.
Thanks to the state-of-the-art infrastructure, you will gain valuable practical experience during your classes.
A practical learning phase abroad offers the opportunity to broaden your horizons and gain new impressions.
Numerous disciplines at one location: participate in research projects and learn from others.
Do you still have questions about the study?
Make an appointment with Heidi Schöngrundner orthoptik@fh-campuswien.ac.at for a a personal consultation via Zoom.
Take advantage of the "FIT for a health profession?!" self-assessment test to see what a profession in health care requires and if you have the right qualities.
FIT for a health profession?! (in German only)
Complete the online application form before the application deadline to apply for the program. You will receive more information in our reply e-mail.
Please note:
It is not possible to save incomplete online applications. You must complete your application in one session. Your application will be valid as soon as you upload all of the required documents and certificates. In the event that some documents (e.g. references) are not available at the time you apply, you may submit these later via e-mail, mail or in person by no later than the start of the degree program.
The admission procedure consists of a written test and an interview with members of the admission committee. In addition, you will be invited to participate in an orthoptic exam to test your vision and binocular vision. The results of the eye test must be positive, if necessary even with glasses or contact lenses, in order to be accepted to the degree program.
The written entrance test will be held on Saturday, 23th March 2024.
The test data valid for you (test location, test day, and time) can be viewed here
FH Campus Wien is characterised by extensive expertise and a large network. At our attractive main location you will benefit from our modern infrastructure and have the opportunity to join a professional community across disciplines. The FH Campus Wien is the only university of applied sciences in Austria to train all seven legally regulated upper-level medical-therapeutic-diagnostic professions as well as midwifery. An important partner in the areas of education, research and development is the Vienna Healthcare Association. There is also close cooperation with the Berufsverband Orthoptik Austria - for example, the annual symposium has already taken place several times at our university. A great potential lies in research projects at the crossroads of health and technology and practical relevance is guaranteed when we organize our freely accessible lecture evenings with top-class experts as part of our Campus Lectures.
In addition to the classic orthoptic diagnosis and therapy, the profession is developing more and more towards prevention, visual rehabilitation and specialization. As a specialist, you focus on certain functional eye diseases: Like how can you help people when for example they suddenly suffer from vision disorders after accidents, strokes or tumors in the brain? Ideally, our eyes rely on instructions that are controlled by the brain. At this interdisciplinary intersection, orthoptics work together with ophthalmologists, neurologists and other health care professionals, to jointly develop strategies for therapy and rehabilitation.
In prevention as well, the need for education is still high, for example for parents. Currently, every third child between the ages of two and six are suspected of suffering from a vision disorder or eye disease. Often it is not clear that permanent damage can only be avoided if eye diseases are detected and treated in time.
You will acquire profound medical knowledge about the eye. In the degree program you will learn about the causes visual disorders, how orthoptic diagnostics work and what therapies are possible and how they are performed. All the steps together result in the orthoptic process.
Semester dates
Winter semester: 30th August 2016 to 27th January 2017
Summer semester: 13th February to 7th July 2017
Number of teaching weeks
18 per semester, including 28 weeks of work experience
Times
Mon. to Fri. all day (in exceptional cases also on Saturdays)
In order to enable all students to gain the necessary practical experience and thus to complete their studies within the regular period of study, there may be practical learning phases during the summer months if required. Four vacation weeks in July or August are planned in any case.
As a graduate of this program, a wide range of occupational fields and career opportunities are open to you. Find out here where your path can take you.
Orthoptists conduct examinations independently. This includes, for example, examining vision and binocular vision or assessing strabismus deviations and eye movements. Depending on the results, ophthalmologists may be involved in further treatment. In addition, orthoptists decide on therapeutic measures to compensate such disorders as double vision or perform orthoptic exercises and vision training with stroke patients. As a generalist, you have decided to provide routine eye care and are employed at ophthalmic practices or in hospitals. At the latest when people start to work intensively on computer screens, do many have their first contact with orthoptics. In your professional life you will detect and treat vision disorders, strabismus, amblyopia and eye movement disorders such as ocular palsies, nystagmus, or central vision disorders after trauma and illness. In any case, you will work autonomously under the order of a medical doctor and take care of everything eye related. Your area of responsibilities will include orthoptic diagnosis and therapy, visual rehabilitation, health promotion and prevention. Only with this degree program is it possible to practice the profession of orthoptist. The MTD Act is the basis for this degree program.
You work primarily in ophthalmic routine care, but also as a specialist in specific areas, such as visual rehabilitation, occupational medicine or preventative checkups in kindergartens and schools. Increasingly more often, orthoptists are also active in teaching, science and research. Opportunities will be open for you in the following areas:
Orthoptist; Head of Degree Program Orthoptics
+43 1 606 68 77-4601
andrea.franzan@fh-campuswien.ac.at
Favoritenstraße 226, D.3.35
1100 Vienna
+43 1 606 68 77-4600
+43 1 606 68 77-4609
orthoptik@fh-campuswien.ac.at
Office hours during the semester
Mon to Fri, 8.00 a.m.-12.00 p.m.
Orthoptist; Academic Staff
andreas.huber@fh-campuswien.ac.at
+43 1 606 68 77-4611
Orthoptist; Academic Staff (Parental Leave)
claudia.hundsdorfer@fh-campuswien.ac.at
+43 1 606 68 77-4610
Orthoptist; Academic Staff
wilma.jacyniak@fh-campuswien.ac.at
+43 1 606 68 77-4606
Orthoptist; Academic Staff
lisa.schneebauer@fh-campuswien.ac.at
+43 1 606 68 77-4604
Orthoptist; Academic Staff
anna-maria.windhofer@fh-campuswien.ac.at
+43 1 606 68 77-4603
We work closely with the Vienna Healthcare Group, universities like the Medical University of Vienna, the professional association Orthoptics Austria and other health care facilities. This guarantees you strong contacts for internships, employment or participation in research and development activities. You will complete the extensive internships at, among others, the hospitals of the Vienna Healthcare Group. You can find information about our cooperation activities and much more at Campusnetzwerk. It's well worth visiting the site as it may direct you to a new job or interesting event held by our cooperation partners!