This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
New regulation in Ontario may increase collaboration between optometrists, opticians
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Ontario residents will see an increase in eye care options as a result of a new regulation, according to a press release from the College of Optometrists of Ontario.
The government passed a new professional misconduct regulation, which includes current conflict-of-interest rules, updated rules for advertising and naming of practices, improved relationships between optometrists and opticians, and greater access for residents to eye care and prescriptions, as detailed in the release.
"The public of Ontario will benefit from more options when seeking eye care now that many of the restrictions that prohibited optometrists from working in association with opticians, and others, have been removed," Paula Garshowitz, registrar at the College of Optometrists of Ontario, said in the release. "While providing more choice and greater convenience, the new regulation will ensure that all Ontarians continue to have access to high-quality optometric services."
In a statement issued to Primary Care Optometry News, Farooq Khan, OD, Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) president, said that the organization is pleased with the new policy.
"The new regulation will have a significant impact on the practice of optometry in Ontario," Khan told PCON in an email. "OAO is confident that our members will welcome the change. Not only will the changes improve interprofessional collaboration between eye care providers, but they will also modernize obsolete and unenforceable restrictions on advertising and business practices.
"One of the more significant changes is the removal of restrictions on association," Khan continued. "Doctors of optometry will now be able to employ opticians and, further, practice with anyone including optical corporations, as long as the doctor of optometry practices as an independent contractor. Professional autonomy is assured, and conflict of interest is minimized through a requirement for the optometrist to have direct control over professional services including fees, patient records, advertising and practice access."
The regulation will go into effect on April 15, 2014.