GOC gets tough with rogue optical sellers

A new protocol explaining when and how the General Optical Council will deal with breaches of the Opticians Act has been published.

The protocol for the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, which was approved at the Council's meeting held on May 19, sets out how the GOC will deal with individuals and businesses that are suspected of various offences.

These include selling contact lenses without the involvement of a registered professional (including over the internet), testing sight while unregistered, falsely claiming to be a registered optician and selling plano contact lenses illegally.

The protocol will allow the GOC's registrar to decide whether or not to pursue a prosecution, rather than this being done by committee as had previously been the case.