WCO rejects refraction-only idea

Patient health would be subject to unnecessary risks if stand-alone refraction was introduced, according to the World Council of Optometry (WCO).

In a position paper, titled 'The Sight Test: Refraction and Examinations of the Eye for the purpose of Detecting Injury, Disease or Abnormality: The Public Health Case,' the WCO said refraction should not be offered as a stand-alone service, even in areas where there are high levels of sight loss as a result of refractive error.

'Patients who have a "refraction only" service may assume their eyes have been examined to see if they are healthy. A comprehensive eye examination also includes an assessment of how both eyes work together and a full eye health assessment, as well as refraction,' said the WCO in the paper.