Implementing Orthoptic Services in Albania

Dear Colleagues,

As you know we implemented the standardized Orthoptic service in the Public Health System of Albania (the first service performed by a graduated Orthoptist), in the Central Polyclinic of Tirana.

We are still working in many technical issues to bring Orthoptic in higher levels!

It has not been simple, since there were many difficulties in implementing a profession with all his components, but with the excellent support from International Orthoptic Association, we are working and improving our beautiful profession with a lot of passion and dedication!

Albania joins and celebrate this year World Orthoptic Day 2023!

How much work has been done in a few months for the recognition and implementation of Orthoptics in our country!

For the first time we have officially a Clinical Guideline for Orthoptic service with high standards, approved from the Ministry of Health of Albania.

All this, thanks to the great assistance in documents from International Orthoptic Association with an excellent group of dedicated orthoptist experts from many countries. Without their support, no achievement would have been possible, of course, in cooperation with the health institutions of our country.

In collaboration with the Municipality of Tirana we started this year the first Orthoptic screening in Albania. It consists in ascertaining the problems of Strabismus and lazy eye - Amblyopia, relying on the excellent British Orthoptic Society screening models, in the kindergartens of Tirana. 

It has already started to give the first results in awareness, ascertainment and capture at the time of many eye problems in the early pediatric age.

The gratitude of parents in improving the quality of life and vision of children,  (adults no less) and quality health care and screenings, is the greatest reward of all the work done!

A lot of work still needs to be done! I am really grateful to all of you of IOA for all the support during all this process and in the future projects in Albania!