Refraction

Message from President & Executive Committee, 2009

Notice to the Members of the College of Opticians of Ontario,

On September 25, 2007 the Council of the College of Opticians of Ontario voted in favour of a motion to adopt Standards of Practice for Refraction for Opticians in Ontario. This followed circulation of a draft Standard of Practice for stakeholder comment. The Standard of Practice reflects a strongly collaborative model of practice in that Opticians must work with practitioners who are authorized to prescribe eye ware in order to refract.

The Standards approved by Council set out specific criteria, including but not limited to, education and continuing education that must be adhered to. A letter was mailed out to all Ontario opticians in May 2008, informing them that the refraction package is now available on our website. It is important to note that the publication of the Standard of Practice approved by Council and this notice in itself do not permit refracting by Opticians in Ontario. Opticians who wish to refract in accordance with the Standards of Practice must apply to the College and satisfy all the requirements prior to engaging in refraction.

In response to the letter from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care dated July 16, 2009, the College, through the Executive Committee exercising its powers under section 12 of the Health Professions Procedural Code, has taken steps to comply with the directions from the Minister listed on page two of the letter.

More specifically:

  • This College will accept no further applications from any of our registrants for approval as a “refracting optician” as of July 16, 2009 until further notice and agreement by the Ministry.
  • Any applications for refraction status that are currently in process, but had not been approved by the College as of July 16, 2009 will not be approved.
  • Letters have been sent within the 10 day period as set out in the letter to those members with applications in progress that their applications are no longer being considered.
  • The President will submit a list of the names of all members who were granted refraction status by the College, including their business addresses and the date refraction status was granted, to Dr. Joshua Tepper within 30 days of the July 16, 2009 letter.

We shall keep you informed of all developments.

Jeff Fernandes RO
President
on behalf of the Executive Committee

Refraction Update – Letter From The Ministry – July 16, 2009 [PDF]


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