Moneo: Optometrists must reflect on what their role really is in the modern world

I listened to a talk the other day and something that was said started me thinking. It was pointed out that the traditional role of an optometrist consisted of two parts. First, as defined in statute, the task of detecting and remedying defects of sight and, second, the task of examining the inside and outside structures of the eye and immediate vicinity to look for abnormality or disease and then reporting that fact to the relevant authority while informing the patient of the outcome. A lot has been said about how archaic these regulations are, but it was only when I heard these two functions put together that I realised just how out of date. I don’t intend to go over the old ground of how dysfunctional the Opticians Act is, but I hope that what I am about to say may cause others to reflect on what our role really is in a modern world.