Optometrists cleared by GOC committee

Two optometrists have been cleared by a GOC fitness to practise committee of failing to identify that a patient was suffering from a condition that could lead to glaucoma.

Martyn Carl Allen and Carol Ann Sinclair were both accused of failing to undertake adequate examinations of the patient's visual fields, optic nerve heads and intraocular pressures, not referring the patient and failing to act appropriately in view of her symptoms.

Sinclair was cleared of all allegations while Allen was found guilty of failing to undertake an adequate examination of the patient's intraocular pressures, but the committee held that this did not impair his fitness to practise.