Since the Secretary of State's announcement regarding the wearing of face coverings in shops in England, we have been seeking further detail on how this impacts optical practices and the guidance for optometrists.
The regulations state that premises in England providing wholly or mainly medical services, including dentistry, optometry and audiology, are exempt, and as such, there is no mandate on the use of face coverings. Although this means it won’t be possible to legally enforce the wearing of face coverings, we recommend practices encourage their patients to wear face coverings unless the patient has an acceptable reason resulting in an exemption. Optometrists can request that a patient removes their face covering for any part of the examination where it affects the ability of a practitioner to perform the sight test or consultation. We know many members want patients to wear a face covering, and it is acceptable to request that, however, the exclusion of optometry from the regulations may make enforcing the policy difficult.
As regulations are subject to change at short notice, we urge you to stay up-to-date with trusted sources. In the meantime, we will continue to work with stakeholders to seek further clarity and consistency in how the public should use face coverings.
Best wishes,
Daniel
Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom
Clinical Adviser