The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006

Eye examinations S

14.—(1) An ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician who accepts in accordance with these regulations–

(a) an application from a patient for a primary eye examination; or

(b) an application from a patient for a supplementary eye examination F1 ...[F2 ,]

shall carry out an eye examination.

[F3 (1A) An eye examination carried out by an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician in accordance with these Regulations shall consist of every test or procedure appropriate to the [F4 presenting signs, symptoms and] needs of the patient for the purpose of that examination unless—

(a) the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician considers that the patient has a physical or mental condition which would make the carrying out of any such test or procedure clinically inappropriate; F5 ...

[F6 (aa) in the judgement of the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician, the test or procedure is clinically inappropriate for any other reason; or]

(b) the patient has refused to undertake any such test or procedure.]

F7 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Where an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician carries out a sight test, he or she shall fulfil any duty imposed on him or her by, or in regulations made under, the Opticians Act 1989.

(4) Where an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician is of the opinion that a patient whose eyes he or she has examined in accordance with sub paragraph (1)–

(a) shows signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye or elsewhere which may require medical treatment; or

(b) is not likely to attain a satisfactory standard of vision notwithstanding the application of corrective lenses,

he or she shall, if appropriate, and with the consent of the patient–

[F8 (i) refer the patient [F9 to any of an optometrist independent prescriber, another ophthalmic medical practitioner,] his or her doctor or to an ophthalmic hospital;]

(ii) [F10 in the case of a referral to an ophthalmic hospital,] inform the patient's doctor or GP practice that he or she has done so; and

(iii) give the patient a written statement that he or she has done so, with details of the referral.

F11 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) A prescription for glasses issued following an eye examination which includes a sight test shall be completed by the method recommended in Appendix A to British Standard [F12 2738-3:2004] (Glossary of Terms relating to Ophthalmic Lenses and Spectacle Frames) published by the British Standards Institution, as effective on the date of its publication, and shall comply with any requirements as to its form specified in the Statement for the purposes of payment in respect of the eye examination.

(7) An ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician shall carry out a maximum of 20 eye examinations in any working day.

(8) Following a primary eye examination or a supplementary eye examination the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician who carried out the examination shall give a statement of the outcome of the examination to the patient.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in sch. 1 para. 14(1)(b) omitted (1.4.2010) by virtue of The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/86), regs. 1, 3(9)(c)(i)

F2 Words in sch. 1 para. 14(1)(b) inserted (1.4.2007) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 (S.S.I. 2007/193), regs. 1, 2(15)(g)(i)

F3 Sch. 1 para. 14(1A) substituted (3.2.2014) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2013 (S.S.I. 2013/355), regs. 1, 8(3)

F4 Words in sch. 1 para. 14(1A) inserted (1.10.2018) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/212), regs. 1(2), 10(6)(a)

F5 Word in sch. 1 para. 14(1A)(a) omitted (1.10.2018) by virtue of The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/212), regs. 1(2), 10(6)(b)

F6 Sch. 1 para. 14(1A)(aa) inserted (1.10.2018) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/212), regs. 1(2), 10(6)(c)

F7 Sch. 1 para. 14(2) omitted (1.4.2010) by virtue of The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/86), regs. 1, 3(9)(c)(iii)

F8 Sch. 1 para. 14(4)(i) substituted (1.4.2010) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/86), regs. 1, 3(9)(aa)(c)(iv)

F9 Words in sch. 1 para. 14(4)(i) substituted (1.7.2022) by The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments and General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/169), regs. 1(1), 14(e)

F10 Words in sch. 1 para. 14(4)(ii) inserted (1.4.2010) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/86), regs. 1, 3(9)(bb)(c)(iv)

F11 Sch. 1 para. 14(5) omitted (1.4.2010) by virtue of The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/86), regs. 1, 3(9)(c)(v)

F12 Word in sch. 1 para. 14(6) substituted (1.4.2007) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 (S.S.I. 2007/193), regs. 1, 2(15)(g)(ii)