DISPENSING OPTICIANS

Opticians Act

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Legislation1

Opticians Act2

Qualification for registration2

Registrations3

Offence re contact lenses3

Acts constituting unprofessional conduct4

Notice and hearing4

Exemption of persons5

Prices and fees not affected5

Changes in regulations6

Problems with regulations7

Conclusion8

References9

Opticians Act

Introduction

A dispensing optician is a person who interprets the prescriptions given by the optician and ophthalmologists commonly referred to as eye specialists. These prescriptions can be for spectacles or for contact lenses. They are also responsible for helping customers select suitable glasses and lenses and master in assembling of glasses and lenses (ABDO, 2012, www.abdo.org.uk). The job of a dispensing optician is very critical keeping in view the fact that they are dealing with one of the most sensitive organs of the human body - the eye. A small mistake can damage the eye. Hence, there was regulation needed in this field considering the many health problems people face on a massive basis and the need for the optician's practice to be uniform. The paper provides a summary of the Section of Optician Act on Dispensing Opticians and discusses some of the problems in the regulation as highlighted by the dispensing opticians themselves.

Legislation

The Optician Act is given by the General Optical Council. This Act was given to register the opticians and make their practice standardized. The different sections of the Act aim at regulating the services provided by different people in the organization. These services may be provided by opticians or by optometrists. However, the service largely remains incomplete without the dispensing optician (National Prescribing Center, 2004, p. 105). The purpose of the Act is twofold. It is to increase the level of awareness and education among optometrists and safeguard the health and well being of people.

The US Department of Health created The Board of Dispensing Opticians back in the year 1955 under the State Legislature. The purpose of this Board is to safeguard the health and safety of people in the US by ensuring premium qualification of people associated with the optical industry (The College of Optometrists, 2012, www.college-optometrists.org). In lieu with the law, guidelines and policies that relate to the field, standards of procedures have been developed by the board so that the conduct of the dispensing optician may remain professional at all times. The Board issues licenses to people who are qualified for dispensing opticians and have relevant academic background. In addition, the legislation requires the license holders to have passed the professional assessment and examination required for obtaining he license and working as a dispensing optician. The legislation also includes a Practice Act which must be followed by opticians at all times. Any violation to this Practice Act can lead to a legal action against the dispensing optician (OTCET, 2011, p. 28). Any licensees who may be found guilty of violating the Practice Act may be treated as such.

Opticians Act

The Dispensing Optician Act is applicable to opticians that are registered under the Act and this registration is a mandatory requirement. The major parts of the Opticians Act are summarized hereunder.

Qualification for registration

The dispensing optician must be a ...