A suspended optometrist has been placed on conditional registration for three years by a General Optical Council fitness to practise review hearing.
James Hands was suspended for six months in August 2011 at an early review hearing called because he was alleged to have treated a patient while under conditional registration.
At a subsequent review in February 2012, the registrant's suspension was extended for a further six months, but the committee said Hands would have the opportunity to show he was ready to return to practice at the next review.
A set of conditions which would allow Hands to work again were presented in August 2012 and submissions were made on his behalf. However, the committee heard Hands was not in a financially secure position to implement them.
At last week's hearing, the committee said Hands had gone to considerable lengths to comply with the recommendations made at the previous review and added that risk of relapse could be managed.