Following consultation and discussion with stakeholders the College of Optometrists has today published the following changes to its Code of Ethics and Guidance for Professional Conduct. Changes include:
- Changes have been made to the contact lens sections in order to expand the guidance on supervision, general direction and substitution (the supply of a lens which does not meet the patient’s contact lens specification).
- Separate sections now cover the supply of powered contact lenses and plano (or ‘zero powered’) contact lenses. The guidance makes it clear that when an optometrist carries out a contact lens check-up with a view to re-issuing a patient’s contact lens specification s/he is carrying out a ‘fitting’ within the meaning of the Opticians Act.
- The Sale and Supply of Spectacles has been expanded to give improved guidance on supervision of dispensing
The revised Guidance, which is consistent with guidance published by ABDO, is available via the College website.