Dorset OO returns to profession

Dorset-based Alan Zealey, who performed an estimated 40,000 eye examinations without any complaints during almost 40 years as an optometrist before his erasure on December 9 1999, had been found guilty of serious professional misconduct. Mr Zealey - who was working as a locum at Peter Thomas Opticians in Dorset - carried out an inadequate sight test on his patient Stanley Habgood on September 2 1994. He failed to detect open-angle glaucoma in Mr Habgood's left eye and failed to refer him to a registered medical practitioner. Mr Zealey had seen Mr Habgood twice before. The patient saw another optometrist who referred him to a consultant surgeon who diagnosed advanced open-angle glaucoma and subsequently performed a trabeculectomy. At the time Mr Zealey claimed he had told his patient to return but it was found no such appointment had been made. He admitted that the eye examination was incomplete. Last week's GOC disciplinary committee heard that at Mr Zealey's original 1999 hearing chairman Dr Ewan Page said that in any application for restoration, the committee would need to be satisfied that 'appropriate steps' had been taken to update the optometrist's knowledge of current practices. Mr Zealey said he had undertaken five refresher courses to familiarise himself with modern techniques and record-keeping which had earned him 20 CET points. He said that after his erasure he was forced to sell his practice to a non-optical buyer which had left the local community without ocular services. He said that as he had been retired since his erasure, this had caused financial hardship. 'Even at my age, I think I can give something to the profession I enjoy,' he said. 'I will make absolutely sure about my record-keeping.'