Sight test clarity

The article by Moneo is unfortunately both misleading and factually incorrect. The provision of GOS has never been linked solely to the need for a corrective appliance despite the misguided interpretations some have sought to make.

The sight testing regulations are clear about the duties a practitioner has when carrying out a sight test (whether private or NHS) which are to ‘perform, for the purposes of detecting signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye or elsewhere:

This is further reinforced by FPN 713 which states ‘one of the main purposes of the GOS is to protect people at risk of eye disease’. In short, the GOS Contracts Regulations are clear that an NHS sight test can be carried out if the patient requests (ie believes they need) one, they have entitlement to an NHS sight test and the optometrist or ophthalmic medical practitioner, in their professional opinion, considers that a sight test is indicated.