Revised guidance on plano sales released

The revised guidance from ABDO and the College of Optometrists on rules surrounding the sale and supply of contact lenses was published this week as Optician went to press.

The review was announced last year in response to increasing concern about the growing number of non-optical suppliers of plano contact lenses such as internet firms and pharmacies.

The main changes to the ABDO/College guidance includes the inclusion of an expanded section on the supervision, general direction and substitution (the supply of a lens which does not meet the patient's contact lens specification) of contact lenses.

Separate sections now cover the supply of powered lenses and plano contact lenses. The guidance makes it clear that when an optometrist carries out a contact lens check-up with a view to re-issuing a patient's contact lens specification she/he is carrying out a 'fitting' within the meaning of the Opticians Act and this imposes certain additional responsibilities.