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,

shall carry out an eye examination.

(2) Where an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician is of the opinion that it is clinically necessary to carry out a sight test on a patient whose eyes he or she has examined in accordance with sub paragraph (1), he or she shall carry out a sight test.

(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–

(i) refer the patient to an ophthalmic hospital;

(ii) 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.

(5) Where an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician undertakes an eye examination of a patient diagnosed as suffering from diabetes or glaucoma he or she shall inform the patient's doctor of the results of the test.

(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 3521:1962 (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.