My name is Heleen Veen-Hellendoorn, and I work as an orthoptist at the Expertise Centre for Visual Disorders at Bartiméus in Zeist. Children from around 4 months of age up to adulthood come to our expertise centre for ophthalmic diagnostics in one day. As a member of the multidisciplinary team, I perform ophthalmic and visual function examinations on our patients.
Within the diagnostics of rare visual disorders in children, my focus is on child-centred working and providing procedural comfort. To this end, my colleague Florine Pilon and I first investigated what is needed to reduce or eliminate anxiety and distress in children undergoing ophthalmic examinations. Interviews with children revealed many do’s and don'ts. Based on the results of this research and training in procedural comfort, we adapted the examination environment and materials. In addition, we developed contemporary information materials and materials that help with desensitisation. Some ophthalmic devices and examination methods have also been adapted. As a multidisciplinary team, we have implemented procedural comfort in our daily practice.
This enables us to carry out our examinations successfully, which makes a valuable contribution to ophthalmic diagnostics. In this way, children can receive the guidance they need for their development at the earliest possible age.