Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to review the quality of eye tests carried out by optometrists and dispensing opticians.

Under the Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No.2) Regulations 1989, when a doctor or optometrist carries out a sight test, they have a legal duty to perform such examinations that are necessary to detect signs of injury, disease or abnormality and to refer the patient for further investigation if necessary. They will also carry out tests to determine if the patient requires an optical appliance to correct a defect in sight.

These requirements apply to all sight tests, whether provided on the National Health Service or privately.

The General Optical Council (GOC) is the regulatory body for optometrists who carry out sight tests and any concern about the quality of sight tests can be raised directly with the GOC.

Dispensing opticians do not carry out sight tests.