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.
The panel was told that Sinclair of Altrincham and Allen of Manchester had seen the patient seven times between 1997 and 2004, but the patient discovered through internet research that she was suffering from Krukenberg's spindle, a sign of pigment dispersion. Further laser treatment revealed that she had glaucoma.
Chris Alder, for the Council, said that her condition was 'quite visible' and 'should have flagged concerns in both optometrists'. However, Ian Stern QC, for the optometrists, urged the panel to assess whether the optometrists should have known that the pigment could lead to glaucoma. Clearing both optometrists, panel chair Alan Baldwin said: 'The committee is satisfied that Mr Allen's fitness to practise is not impaired.'