Has sight testing been harmful to optometrists in BC?
Hi folks
I believe back in May 2010, BC permitted sight testing by opticians. Was this change in any way a game changer for ODs? What is the work/job scenario for optometrists in the province these days? Is there less work now available for ODs compared to before the new law was implemented? Or are ODs basically "equally" busy now, as before the rule change? Would an OD moving to BC from another province find it difficult to find adequate work?
Thanks in advance.
“The main issue we have is that asymptomatic eye disease will go unchecked,” she says
Kirsten North, president of the Canadian Association of Optometrists, says that automated sight tests aren’t comprehensive. “The main issue we have is that asymptomatic eye disease will go unchecked,” she says.
For some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, early detection is the only way to prevent permanent damage. Symptoms occur late and lost vision cannot be recovered.Sight tests are also unable to detect problems such as retinal tears, corneal scars and eye tumours.
Automated Sight tests, alone, aren’t an adequate basis on which to generate prescriptions, says North. Factors other than refraction, such as age and health status, must be considered. “Even something as simple as how tall someone is can affect a prescription,” she says.
see all of it:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882486
Eyeglass and contact lens prescribing and dispensing regulations by province
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wmcdonald
Has it affected ODs in BC? I have not seen any indication it has but would be interested to hear from those affected on both sides of the issue.
It for sure is affecting ODs as well as opticians because the sale of glasses is totally deregulated and opticians can test vision.
PROVINCE/TERRITORY, GLASSES, CONTACT LENSES, British Columbia.
A patient may obtain an eye glass prescription from an optometrist, physician or ophthalmologist. A patient may also obtain specifications for eye glasses from a sight testing optician. Both the optical prescription and sight test results must include a measurement of the interpupillary distance.
The patient can either use the eye glass prescription or the sight test specifications to purchase eyeglasses anywhere that eyeglasses are available. Dispensing is deregulated in British Columbia.
A patient must have an optical prescription or specifications from a sight test to initiate a CL fitting. A patient must have an initial CL fitting done by an optometrist, physician, ophthalmologist or optician.
Initial CLs may only be dispensed by the above regulated professionals. Replacement CLs can be dispensed indefinitely by anyone including internet CL sites.
source:
https://opto.ca/sites/default/files/..._version_2.pdf
I wonder if someone can define "sight testing" for me................................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rbaker
I wonder if someone can define "sight testing" for me. I'm confused. Is it a refraction, a screening or eye exam or is it some sort of new procedure?
Sight testing is a new definition on the new optical world market, and part of the revolution just about making its official start in 2 month by the Essilor/Luxottica merger.
The USA is more than halfway deregulated and in Canada, BC and Quebec are done and they are working to do the same in Ontario.
see the latest trend:
https://health.economictimes.indiati...erjee/58744572
This is actually a good question..............................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
optio
This is actually a good question. I imagine it is legally defined in the jurisdictions where it exists (i.e. BC). I'm assuming the BC optician governing body has outlined what constitutes a sight test. What I don't believe it is, is simply the results of an autorefraction used as the basis for an eyeglass prescription.
The BC opticians website at http://www.opticians.bc.ca does not exist and is automatically diverted to the Canadian Dispensing Opticians Association.
Well said. It's a beautiful accurate system.........................................
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lab Insight
Well said. It's a beautiful accurate system. And having an optician do the entire process is why it is 1% error vs. 10% coming from the OD offices.
........................just like to add one more thing on the subject.
This system is and has been used all over the world, just about forever, and is nothing new, and has worked fine just about forever.
The North American Continent is lagging behind the world in this field.