GOC suspends Chichester optometrist

A Chichester-based optometrist has been suspended by a General Optical Council (GOC) Fitness to Practise Committee for four months by reason of misconduct.

The Committee found Philip Sowden’s fitness to practise to be impaired due to failing to conduct an appropriate eye examination and failing to detect the signs and symptoms of his patient’s glaucoma.

For three years, the patient told Sowden about her symptoms, including a vision blackspot, and her family history of glaucoma, but he reportedly could see nothing wrong.

Sowden was also found to have failed to refer the patient to hospital for further examination or maintain adequate patient records.

The optometrist has until November 21 to appeal against his suspension, during which time he is suspended from the register under an immediate suspension order.