Statement on misrepresentation and false endorsement of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatment

Mr Vikash Kumar, a former optometrist who was erased from the GOC register in March 2020, featured in an article in ‘Business Matters’ magazine on 8 June 2021. The article referred to Mr Kumar as an optometrist and falsely claimed that the GOC had endorsed a treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

The GOC would never endorse a specific clinical treatment or product, and certainly not for commercial purposes. A cease-and-desist letter has been sent to Mr Kumar, instructing him to refrain from using the protected title of optometrist in any of his business or personal dealings and to stop making these claims with immediate effect. We have also written to the magazine advising them of the issue and have requested that they publish an immediate retraction of this article.

If you are aware of similar articles or claims that the GOC has endorsed a product or treatment, please do get in touch with our illegal practice department at lc@optical.org who will advise whether the article is genuine, taking appropriate action where necessary, should the claim or article prove to be un-true.