FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1982
LEGISLATION FOR OPTICAL PROFESSION
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS FOR THE OPTICAL PROFESSION.
THE DECISION WAS TAKEN AFTER CONSIDERATION OF THE STANDARDS OF THE PROFESSION AT PRESENT AND OF THE POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS TO THE PUBLIC POSED BY THE PRACTICES OF UNQUAL IF IED OPTICIANS.
A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ASCERTAIN THE QUALIFICATIONS OF STAFF EMPLOYED IN THE ESTIMATED 500 OPTICAL SHOPS IN HONG KONG, ALL OF WHICH OFFER EYE- TESTING AND PRESCRIPTION SERVICES IN ADDITION TO SUPPLYING OPTICAL APPLIANCES.
THE SURVEY SHOWS THAT MOST EMPLOYEES IN THE OPTICAL TRADE ARE YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED AND HAVE HAD LITTLE FORMAL TRAINING.
ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE STAFF EMPLOYED ARE UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE. THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF 50 PER CENT IS BELOW FORM THREE. WHILE THE MAJORITY HAVE UNDERGONE SOME FORM OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, AT THE TIME THE SURVEY WAS DONE THERE WERE ONLY 18 FULLY TRAINED OPTOMETRISTS BY WESTERN STANDARDS IN THE ENTIRE OPTICAL PROFESSION.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO CATEGORIES OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, MEMBERS OF THE OPTICAL PROFESSION ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY STATUTORY CONTROLS AT PRESENT. THE EXCEPTIONS ARE OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, WHO ARE TRAINED SPECIALLY TO TREAT EYE DISEASES, AND MEDICAL REFRACTIONISTS, WHO ARE TRAINED TO TEST EYESIGHT AND TO PRESCRIBE SPECTACLES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS NECESSARY FOR LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE STANDARDS OF PRACTICE, ESPECIALLY AS A LARGE PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S SCHOOL CHILDREN RELIED ON SPECTACLES FOR NORMAL VISION. THIS NEED WAS HIGHLIGHTED AT THE 3RD ASIAN-PACIFIC OPTOMETRIC CONGRESS HELD IN HONG KONG
IN 1980, WHERE IT WAS NOTED THAT THE INCREASING TREND TOWARDS WEARING CONTACT LENSES PREDICATED GREATER POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE EYES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID LEGISLATION WOULD BE DRAFTED TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF OPTICAL SHOPS AND TO REQUIRE SUCH PREMISES TO BE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF REGISTERED OPTOMETRISTS, WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO TEST EYESIGHT AND TO PRESCRIBE, FIT AND SUPPLY LENSES AND OPTICAL APPLIANCES.
HE ADDED THAT PROVISIONS WOULD BE MADE FOR THOSE WITH LONG YEARS OF PROVEN WORKING EXPERIENCE WHO WERE PRACTISING OPTOMETRY AT THE TIME THE LEGISLATION CAME INTO BEING.
/THE SPOKESMAN