Dispensing opticians will not be permitted to conduct refraction for the purposes of the sight test after the General Optical Council (GOC) considered responses to the call for evidence on the Opticians Act.
However, the GOC agreed to revisit its 2013 policy statement to reflect contemporary practice and take account of technological developments and changing business models.
The 2013 statement on testing of sight stated that refraction cannot be delegated for the purposes of a sight test.
The response was approved by the GOC at its first Council meeting of the year on March 22, 2023.