Contract launched

The new optometry contract for Scotland was confirmed on 26 October 2005, following years of work undertaken by Optometry Scotland with the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) and ministers. This is the most significant change in legislation concerning the provision of eyecare in Scotland in the last 60 years.

The launch pad for a world class leading service in Scotland, it will tie in with other developments over the next three years, working towards the Vision 2020 aim of eliminating avoidable blindness by the year 2020.

The new eye examination differs from the old GOS sight test by not requiring mandatory refraction, instead providing a health assessment of the eyes that may lead to refraction, other procedures, care pathways for sight threatening conditions or other referral as appropriate on an individual basis.

Anyone, whether they have red eyes, painful eyes, flashes and floaters or just need new spectacles, will be able to access the new NHS service at their local optical practice.

Initially there will be an expected upper limit of 20 NHS primary examinations per optometrist per normal working day. This will be kept under review particularly regarding how the supplementary examination is used. This will be pro-rata’d depending on hours worked and will be adjusted for pre-registration supervisors.