PPRG survey: GOC consultation on the testing of sight

Please note: the GOC’s proposed changes only apply to sight tests – to check vision and the health of your eye. The changes would not apply to other types of eye care such as emergency care or treatment for existing eye conditions.

The GOC want to make it clear that some parts of a sight test can be carried out by trained members of the optical practice team, who are not optometrists.  These could include eye pressure checks and photographs of the back of the eye (the retina) that are often carried out before an optometrist performs a sight test.   

They are asking if activities carried out by staff who are not optometrists or dispensing opticians could be overseen remotely, by an optometrist who isn’t in the building at the same time.

The GOC also want to allow different parts of the sight test to be carried out by different people, at different times or in different locations, if optometrists and optical practices think they can do so safely.

These proposals could affect how patients experience sight tests in the future.

The College of Optometrists is seeking your views to help inform its response to the consultation. We would like to understand what matters most to you when having a sight test.  

This survey is anonymous. We will not collect or share your name or use your responses to identify you. Your responses will be used only to help us understand patients’ views and inform the College’s response to the GOC consultation.