Protection of the public when buying contact lenses online will be boosted by a voluntary code of practice for online vendors which entered a consultation period this week.
The draft General Optical Council code follows the model used in other online health markets where sellers sign up to a code of practice in return for the right to display an endorsement logo. The GOC code for online contact lenses will ask vendors to encourage buyers to have regular aftercare appointments and eye examinations. The GOC’s director of strategy, Alistair Bridge, said this will make it easier for the public to safely buy contact lenses online. ‘A key feature of the code is that it emphasises the crucial role of optometrists and contact lens opticians in managing patients’ eye health. When people buy their contact lenses online it’s essential that they still see their eyecare practitioner regularly to avoid putting the health of their eyes at risk,’ he said.
The code was drafted by a stakeholder group which includes members from consumer groups as well as optical bodies, academia, retailers and online suppliers. Rob Hogan, GOC Council member and chair of the stakeholder steering group on contact lens supply, said the group has worked together to protect the public.
‘The draft code of practice draws on the independent research commissioned by the GOC to improve public protection and I’m particularly pleased that the code covers the substitution of contact lenses, which can create risks to the public in some circumstances. Substitution is not covered by the law as it stands and this really shows the value of a code of practice that can adapt more easily to sector developments.’
The consultation period runs from August 3 to October 12.
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