ABDO observes Canada model

Despite a firm rebuttal from the World Council of Optometry on the issue of standalone refraction (News 23.11.12), the Association of British Dispensing Opticians said it would continue an international search for evidence that the method is safe.

ABDO said it had looked to Canada, where standalone refraction is practised freely and asked Robert Dalton, executive chairman of the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC), to share its experiences.

'From time to time, optometry will beat its drum and re-issue statements like the one recently,' said Dalton. 'Old mind-sets and outdated fears are always a challenge. In Canada we have been practising standalone refraction in various jurisdictions for years, with very positive results.