SCHEDULERULES ON THE FITTING OF CONTACT LENSES 1985

The General Optical Council, in exercise of their powers under section 20A(3) of the Opticians Act 1958, hereby make the following rules:—

1

These rules may be cited as the Rules on the Fitting of Contact Lenses 1985.

2

a

In these rules—

  • “The Act” means the Opticians Act 1958;

  • “appropriate course of instruction” means a course of instruction as a dispensing optician or an ophthalmic optician provided by an approved training institution;

  • “the Council” means the General Optical Council established under the Act;

  • “examining body” means a body granting, for the time being, an approved qualification;

b

Section 30 of the Act shall apply for the interpretation of these rules as it applies for the interpretation of the Act.

3

A person who is training as a dispensing optician or an ophthalmic optician and who falls within one of the classes prescribed by Rule 4 of these rules may fit a contact lens provided he does so—

a

in the course of obtaining practical experience; and

b

under the continuous personal supervision of a registered optician or registered medical practitioner.

4

The classes of persons training as dispensing opticians or ophthalmic opticians prescribed for the purposes of these rules are the following:—

1

Persons engaged in an appropriate course of instruction.

2

Persons who either:—

a

have completed an appropriate course of instruction; or

b

are holders of a qualification for the time being recognised under section 3(4) of the Act (overseas qualifications);

and who are undertaking a period of preregistration training as a dispensing optician or an ophthalmic optician under the supervision of an examining body.

3

Persons who have been accepted by an examining body to sit without further part-time or full-time study the examinations for an approved qualification by virtue of having completed an appropriate course of instruction.

4

Persons engaged in a course of instruction provided by an approved training institution leading to a qualification approved by the Council for inclusion in the register under rule 5(1)(e) of the Registration and Enrolment Rules 19762, as amended.

5

These rules shall come into operation on 5th June 1985.