Latest College Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
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Introduction to the Code of Ethics and College Guidelines
The optometrist has a duty to place the welfare of his/her patients before all other considerations, to apply to each patient the full extent of his/her knowledge and skill, and to maintain and develop his/her professional competence throughout his/her professional life.
The optometrist has a duty to ensure that the patient receives the same standard of care whether or not s/he delegates any task, and to satisfy him/herself as to the competence and suitability of the person to perform the task being delegated.
In conducting research the rights, safety and wellbeing of the patient should be safeguarded. The optometrist should be aware of and abide by established ethical research protocols
Any optometrist who is involved in supervising a pre-registration trainee or colleague must be aware of the activities of the trainee or colleague and be available and able to give support or advice where necessary.
The optometrist has a duty to carry out whatever tests are necessary to determine the patient?s needs for vision care as to both sight and health. The exact format and content will be determined by both the practitioner?s professional judgement and the minimum legal requirements.
When examining a patient with diabetes mellitus, the optometrist has a duty to take reasonable care to detect the presence of any ocular changes that might be linked to the condition.
When examining a patient who falls within the at-risk groups for primary open-angle glaucoma, the optometrist has a duty to carry out the appropriate tests necessary to determine the likelihood of the condition being present.
When examining a younger child, the optometrist has a duty to use a range of tests suitable for the age of patient being assessed and in all cases to obtain as much information as possible about vision and/or visual acuity, oculomotor balance, refractive error and the health of the eyes.
When examining the older person the optometrist has a duty to carry out whatever tests are necessary to determine the patient’s needs for vision care as to both sight and health, notwithstanding any difficulties in communication or assessment which may be associated with physical sensory or mental disability. The exact content and format will be determined by both the practitioner’s professional judgement and the minimum legal requirements.
The optometrist has a duty to carry out whatever tests are possible to determine the patient’s needs for vision care as to both sight and health, irrespective of where the examination takes place. The exact format and content will be determined by both the practitioner’s professional judgement and the minimum legal requirements.
The optometrist has a duty to examine patients at the most appropriate intervals in accordance with clinical needs.
If the optometrist sees a patient complaining of an acute ocular condition s/he has a duty to undertake whatever procedures are necessary, in his/her clinical judgement, in order to assess the problems and to manage the patient effectively.
When examining a patient with learning disabilities, the optometrist has a duty to carry out whatever tests are necessary, using a range of tests and procedures that are appropriate to the needs of the patient and, where necessary, seeking a briefing from family members, carers and key workers.
The optometrist has a duty, when examining patients as part of their entitlement under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (“The Regulations”), to carry out a full eye examination.
The optometrist has a duty to respect all patients’ sensitivities and to avoid unnecessary physical contact with the patient.
In addition to the responsibilities related to the eye examination, the optometrist examining a patient wishing to wear contact lenses has a duty to assess the patient’s suitability for contact lenses and to advise and inform the patient about contact lens wear.
Whenever a contact lens is supplied by an optometrist, he or she has a duty to ensure that the lens or lenses meet the specification, and fulfil their legal obligation to make arrangements for the patient to receive aftercare insofar as, and for as long as, may be reasonable for each particular case
Wearers of zero-powered contact lenses are exposed to the same risks to ocular health as wearers of powered contact lenses. Therefore the same degree of care is required with fitting or supplying a patient with zero powered contact lenses as when fitting a patient with powered contact lenses.
When examining a wearer of contact lenses, the optometrist has a duty to ensure that the general ocular status of the patient is regularly assessed.
When examining a patient with specific learning difficulties, the optometrist has a duty to carry out all tests necessary to satisfy him/herself of the appropriateness of prescribing tinted lenses. The optometrist has a duty to ensure that s/he has the necessary training.
The optometrist undertaking the fitting of punctum plugs has a duty to ensure that s/he is proficient in the procedures used in the fitting and removal of punctum plugs and is fully conversant in their clinical application and possible sequelae.
The optometrist must act in the best interests of his/her patient and must not let any commercial considerations interfere with his/her judgement.
The optometrist undertaking the measurement of a patient’s blood pressure has a duty to ensure that s/he is proficient in the technique and conversant with the current treatment guidelines for systemic hypertension.
The optometrist has a duty to ensure that s/he keeps complete and legible records of the patients under his/her care.
During the course of professional practice, the optometrist has a duty to refer the patient for appropriate ongoing clinical care and/or management whenever s/he observes a sign or symptom of a condition that cannot be managed within his/her competence and scope of practice, whether the observation is made during the eye examination or at any other time in the course of practice.
The optometrist has a statutory duty under Section 26(2) of the Opticians Act 1989 and the Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No 2) Regulations 1989 to issue, immediately following an eye examination, a prescription or a statement indicating that no prescription is necessary or that no change has been made to an existing prescription.
The optometrist has a duty to prescribe or recommend a change of spectacles or contact lenses only when it is in the patient’s best interests to do so.
The optometrist should ensure that all patients are fully advised of their needs for spectacle frames and lenses and that all spectacles are properly measured for fit and are fitted to the patient and are checked against relevant standards.
The optometrist has a duty to take due care in the use of drugs in optometric practice and to only supply drugs when it is appropriate to do so. It is good practice for the supply of drugs to normally be made by a pharmacist.
The optometrist examining the patient with low vision should be familiar with local protocols regarding the assessment and care of people with low vision. Contact details of other members of the multidisciplinary teams should be available to give to patients.
Ophthalmic Abbreviations
Instillation of eyedrops by unregistered personnel.