Hey! I am a final year Orthoptics student at the University of Sheffield and I may be able to offer some advice.
Orthoptics is a niche area of medicine that specialises in ocular motility and double vision. You become an autonomous clinician (work independently to diagnose and treat patients without a doctors oversight) without having to attend medical school. Although, you will still work side by side with all different types of ophthalmic practitioners. The Sheffield course is one that I have really enjoyed, in particular the neuro-ophthalmology and complex ocular motility lectures are some of the best parts! Other universities such as Liverpool and Glasgow offer the course.
The eyes are a fascinating and complex part of the human anatomy which is, at times, over-looked. However, the field of ophthalmology and subsequent ophthalmic clinicians that all work together to treat patient needs is quite something to behold, particularly when seeing it for yourself on clinical placement and partaking in clinical practise.
The pay adheres to the NHS Agenda for Change so if you check that out online you can gauge for yourself if it pays well. Newly qualified students start at a Band 5 position.
Hope this helps!