14 August 2025
The risks involved in splitting down the component parts of a sight test via place, person or time are low, the General Optical Council (GOC) has concluded.
The conclusion is the result of newly published GOC research that assessed a risk-based framework for sight testing.
A commitment to consider updating the regulator’s 2013 statement on the testing of sight was made as part of the GOC’s 2022 call for evidence on the Opticians Act.
The overall conclusion was that “the separation of sight testing components by person, time or place may pose some risks for both the NHS and patients. However, in the context of a routine eye examination, the likelihood of these risks occurring was considered to be low,” the GOC said.
Tailoring eye care to individuals, for example by further considering patients’ risk profiles, could offer advantages in the prevention, diagnosis and management of ocular conditions, the research also suggested.
GOC director of regulatory strategy, Steve Brooker, said: “This research comes at an important time, as technology is evolving and models are developing where parts of the sight test are carried out remotely from the patient and sometimes different elements are carried out by different people, in different places and at different times.
“We recognise the significance of the issues and the diversity of views about them, so will carefully consider the findings and their policy implications before deciding next steps.”
A roundtable event in the autumn will discuss the report with the GOC Council and gather stakeholder views, Brooker said.
Responding to the publication of the report, Dr Peter Hampson, clinical and policy director of the AOP, said: “We will review the findings in the GOC’s report in detail and share our assessment of the potential policy implications with our members.
“We look forward to taking part in any future discussions with the GOC and other sector stakeholders on this important issue for our members and the public.”
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hilaryandmichael10 October 2025
“Low risk” involved in separating out sight test components, GOC says
All part of the agenda by corporate individuals involved in GOC to legitimise refraction only glasses supply of optical appliances and bypassing the "health aspect" of the current system. Only a matter of time before the emergence of reincarnated norman fowler, kenneth clarke and lord rugby to dissect and deskill the current system to allow the corporates to damage optometrists income stream even further
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Anonymous14 August 2025
Where is the evidence in question?. I’m sure colleagues can share countless examples of asymptomatic sight/life threatening pathology that we pick up from routine testing every day. Tears, tumours, glaucoma ect.
I hope we can learn from our medical colleagues and be courageous enough to take the GOC to court if this goes ahead and patients are harmed.
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