Recently published statement during the COVID-19 emergency

The GOC has published a statement which provides guidance on the verification of contact lens specification during the COVID-19 emergency.

The intention behind this statement is to relax enforcement of the legislation around verification of contact lens specifications to ensure that prescription contact lenses can continue to be supplied to patients remotely during the emergency period. It will also help ensure that patients do not run out of contact lenses or re-use lenses where it is inappropriate to do so.

This will also ensure that patients are able to obtain contact lenses through businesses operating within UK law (regardless of whether they are registered with the GOC), rather than being forced to resort to online businesses operating outside UK law where the same standards may not apply.

The legal requirements outline the following areas:

• The patient must have an in-date contact lens specification which has been issued following a contact lens fitting/check.

• Zero powered contact lenses can be supplied only by, or under the supervision (i.e. not under the general direction) of, a registered optometrist, registered dispensing optician or registered medical practitioner.

• Prescription contact lenses can be supplied without verification of a contact lens specification where: 

  • the supplier is in possession of the original contact lens specification; or

  • the sale is being made by, or under the supervision of, a registered optometrist, registered dispensing optician or registered medical practitioner.

The statement also covers how to exercise your professional judgement and how to record your decisions.

To read the statement in full, visit our COVID-19 page.