Latest College Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
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.
Following the preliminary assessment of a prospective patient, the optometrist has a duty to ensure that each individual patient is fitted with the most appropriate lens type and to give optimum vision for the required use. The optometrist has a duty to provide the patient with an appropriate lens care regimen and detailed written instruction on the use and wear of the lenses as well as the proposed aftercare schedule.
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.
The optometrist has a duty to ensure that whenever a contact lens supplied by him/her is lost, broken or being replaced every care is taken to ensure that the duplicate lens or lenses meet the specification. This duty applies to both plano and powered contact lenses.