It is not all that long since movers and shakers at a College of Optometrists' AGM, incensed at the availability of free or discounted sight testing, forced a motion that ophthalmic opticians guilty of such heinous behaviour should be charged with unprofessional conduct, thereby prejudicing their continuing membership of the organisation. Common sense prevailed, however, and College policy makers, more attuned to political realities, discreetly pigeon-holed this daft proposal. One can well imagine the likely consequences in a consumer society had it not done so.
Why, you may well ask, do I hark back to this outburst of professional fervour? The answer quite simply is because of the recent NHS pay award accepted, as previous meagre handouts have been, by the profession's representatives. In short, this has indicated yet again that the vast majority of ophthalmic opticians, if not the profession in its entirety, are still prepared to carry out sight tests on the State's behalf at what is generally acknowledged to be cut-price rates. 'Tis a mad world, my masters!