“Sight-testing opticians” in British Columbia may be permitted to independently conduct automated refractions for healthy patients, and spectacle and contact lens providers may be able to fill prescriptions without possession or verification of a current, valid refraction.

According to a news release issued by the Ministry of Health on March 19, the regulation change was to take effect May 1.

Sara Moshurchak, president of the Opticians of British Columbia (OBC), told PCON that licensed sight-testing opticians will be able to independently conduct sight tests under the new regulations without the data being reviewed by an eye doctor.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Health Services, the consultation draft regulations will allow opticians to independently sight-test healthy individuals between the ages of 19 to 64 and provide an assessment record of their refraction. To qualify for sight-testing, an individual has to have had one eye exam before the age of 19 and another between the ages of 19 and 40.

Individuals are not permitted to be sight-tested if they have a history of glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, diabetes, hypertension, diplopia, recent head trauma, injury or pain in either eye within the previous 3 months, prisms or refractive error exceeding 6 D in either eye.

In addition, individuals will be permitted to order contacts or glasses online without having to produce a copy of their prescription, sight-test assessment or contact lens specifications.