Optometrist continued to practise while suspended

Harpenden-based optometrist Donald Lydon has been erased from the General Optical Council’s register after his fitness to practise was found to be impaired by reason of misconduct.

Lydon continued to practise as an optometrist while subject to an interim suspension order, submitted General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) claims for matters other than sight tests, and altered dates on GOS forms in respect to patients he had seen during his interim suspension order.

A fitness to practise committee decided that Lydon’s dishonest behaviour meant he should be erased from the register under an immediate suspension order.

The registrant was not present at the hearing and was not represented but the committee decided it would be in the public interest for the hearing to proceed.