An investigation into internet contact lens sales has prompted reaction from within the optical profession and will be addressed by the General Optical Council.
Ron Hamilton, chairman of online retailer Daysoft, wrote a letter to Optician this month outlining findings he had submitted to the GOC. The investigation claimed CLs could be purchased from seven internet suppliers in the UK without verification being asked for.
Hamilton went on to say he did not believe the GOC regarded the issue ‘with any concern’ and stressed his belief there was no evidence that buying contact lenses on the internet posed a greater risk to patients anyway (Letters 04.10.13).
However, a high street source told Optician that not asking for a prescription resulted in a heightened risk to children, and that his own daughter had been able to buy lenses from an internet supplier with just her debit card.
The source did agree with Hamilton that the GOC had historically chosen not to act on the matter, however.
A spokesperson for the GOC said: ‘We take illegal practice seriously and are currently developing our strategy in this area. This will be underpinned by research into the risks to the public that can arise from different types of illegal practice. Council will be discussing our future approach to tackling illegal practice at its meeting in November.’
Hamilton has since explained he neither encouraged nor discouraged the GOC to do anything regarding the supply of contact lenses with or without verification, only provided facts.
He added: ‘Verification is simply a UK restrictive practice adding cost but no value as any independently responsible regulatory body would acknowledge. Hardly surprising that it is widely ignored.’
