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Two Cardiff optometrists faced General Optical Council disciplinary proceedings earlier this week over their treatment of a 67-year-old radiographer.

Ultimately after three visits the radiographer was diagnosed as suffering from glaucoma.

The GOC alleged in notices issued in April that Sasha Louise Macken and Wilfred Hugh Phillips were guilty of deficient professional performance.

The GOC was told that before the diagnosis the patient had visited three seperate opticians, Macken, Phillips and Julian Davies at Julian Davies Opticians in St Mellons, Cardiff.

Both Macken and Phillips faced claims that they failed to provide 'sufficient management' of the woman and are accused of inaccurately interpreting the patient's hospital notes and an error in referring to 'minor corneal changes'. Both Macken and Phillips deny all the allegations of deficient professional performance by failing to carry out certain tests and the other alleged errors.

Chris Alder, for the GOC, said the work involved 'basic and fundamental clinical' procedures and 'basic management'.

'Neither optometrist undertook sufficient management nor acted in the patient's best interests.'

Alder said that the woman, who had worn spectacles for almost 20 years saw Davies concerned about reduced vision in relation to driving and she was prescribed varifocals. However, while the patient persisted with the varifocals her vision was blurred. It was after this that she was seen by Macken and Phillips in separate visits.

Her symptoms could have been a number of conditions, Alder said, including glaucoma and in November 2005 glaucoma was diagnosed.

The hearing continued as Optician went to press.

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