The Opticians Act 1989 (Amendment) Order 2005

The Rules on the Fitting of Contact Lenses 1985

19.—(1) The Rules on the Fitting of Contact Lenses 1985(1) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph.

(2) For the words “ophthalmic optician”, wherever they occur, substitute “optometrist”.

(3) For the words “ophthalmic opticians”, wherever they occur, substitute “optometrists”.

(4) In rule 2(a) (interpretation)—

(a) for the definition of “appropriate course of instruction”, substitute—

““appropriate course of instruction” means a course of instruction as a dispensing optician or an optometrist provided by an approved training establishment;”; and

(b) for the definition of “qualified registered optician” substitute—

““qualified registered optometrist or registered dispensing optician” means a registered optometrist or registered dispensing optician who holds an approved qualification, as defined in the Contact Lens (Qualifications etc) Rules 1988 (scheduled to the General Optical Council (Contact Lens (Qualifications etc) Rules) Order of Council 1988) or has been granted certification as a person qualified to fit contact lenses in accordance with the provisions of those Rules;”.

(5) For rule 3, substitute—

“3.   A person who—

(a) is training as an optometrist or a dispensing optician;

(b) is registered in the register of students maintained by the Council in accordance with section 8A of the Act; and

(c) falls within one of the classes prescribed by rule 4 of these Rules,

may fit a contact lens provided he does so—

(i) in the course of obtaining practical experience; and

(ii) under the continuous personal supervision of a qualified registered optometrist or registered dispensing optician or a registered medical practitioner.”.

(6) In rule 4—

(a) in paragraph (2), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) are holders of a qualification granted outside the United Kingdom which is approved under section 12(7) of the Act (education and training);”; and

(b) for paragraph (4), substitute—

“(4) Persons engaged in a course of instruction provided by an approved training establishment leading to a qualification specified in Appendix A to the Contact Lens (Qualification etc) Rules 1988 (scheduled to the General Optical Council (Contact Lens (Qualifications etc) Rules) Order of Council 1988).”.

(1)

Scheduled to S.I. 1985/856 and amended by rules scheduled to S.I. 1988/1305.