Editing Optometry (section)

====United Kingdom====
===== Licensing =====
Optometrists in the United Kingdom are regulated by the [[General Optical Council]] under the Opticians Act 1989 and distinguished from medical practitioners.<ref name="Opticians Act 1989">[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/44/pdfs/ukpga_19890044_en.pdf Opticians Act 1989] (cap. 44)</ref> Registration with the GOC is mandatory to practice optometry in the UK. Members of the [[College of Optometrists]] (incorporated by a Royal Charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)<ref name="Agarwal, R. 1995">Agarwal, R. (1995), A Royal Charter for optometrists, British Journal of Optometry and Dispensing, 3 (3), 100</ref> may use the suffix MCOptom.

The [[National Health Service]] provides free sight tests and spectacle vouchers for children and those on very low incomes. The elderly and those with some chronic conditions like diabetes get free periodic tests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/|title=Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers|publisher=NHS|date=2018-08-14}}</ref> Treatment for eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts is free and checked for during normal eye examinations.

===== Training =====
In the [[United Kingdom]], optometrists have to complete a 4-year undergraduate honours degree followed by a minimum of a one-year internship, "pre-registration period", during which they complete clinical practice under the supervision of a qualified and experienced practitioner. During this year the pre-registration candidate is given a number of quarterly assessments, often including temporary posting at a hospital, and on successfully passing all of these assessments, a final one-day set of examinations (details correct for candidates from 2006). Following successful completion of these assessments and having completed one year's supervised practice, the candidate is eligible to register as an optometrist with the [[General Optical Council]] (GOC) and, should they so wish, are entitled to membership of the [[College of Optometrists]]. Twelve universities offer Optometry in the UK: [[Anglia Ruskin University|Anglia Ruskin]], [[Aston University|Aston]], [[University of Bradford|Bradford]], [[Cardiff University|Cardiff]], [[City, University of London|City]], [[Glasgow Caledonian University|Glasgow Caledonian]], [[University of Hertfordshire|Hertfordshire]], [[University of Manchester|Manchester]], [[University of Plymouth|Plymouth]], [[University of Portsmouth|Portsmouth]], [[Ulster University at Coleraine|Ulster at Coleraine]] and [[University of the West of England|West of England]]. {{update | list of universities appears very inaccurate|date=April 2024}}

In 2008 the UK moved forward to offer the Doctor of Optometry postgraduate programme. This became available at the [[Institute of Optometry]] in London in partnership with [[London South Bank University]].<ref>Agarwal, R. (2008), Integrating theory with practice, Optician, Volume 236, number 6167, page 12.</ref><ref>Agarwal, R. (2014), Developing the doctorate, Optician, volume 247, number 6439, page 26.</ref>  The Doctor of Optometry postgraduate degree is also offered at one other UK institution: [[Aston University]].

===== Scope of Practice =====
In 1990, a survey of the opinions of British medical practitioners regarding the services provided by British optometrists was carried out by Agarwal<ref>Agarwal, R. (1996), British optometry: medical practitioner's opinion survey, British Journal of Optometry and Dispensing, 4(2), 50-52.</ref> at City, University of London. A majority of respondents were in favour of optometrists extending their professional role by treating external eye conditions and prescribing broad-spectrum topical antibiotics through additional training and certification.

Since 2009, optometrists in the UK have been able to undertake additional postgraduate training and qualifications that allow them to prescribe medications to treat and manage eye conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.college-optometrists.org/en/CPD/Therapeutics/independent-prescribing/index.cfm |title=Independent Prescribing|website=The College of Optometrists}}</ref>  There are currently three registerable specialities:
* Additional supply speciality – to write orders for, and supply in an emergency, a range of drugs in addition to those ordered or supplied by a normal optometrist.
* Supplementary prescribing speciality – to manage a patient's clinical condition and prescribe medicines according to a clinical management plan set up in conjunction with an independent prescriber, such as a GP or ophthalmologist or qualified optometrist.
* Independent prescribing specialty – to take responsibility for the clinical assessment of a patient, establish a diagnosis and determine the clinical management required, including prescribing where necessary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.optical.org/en/Education/Specialty_qualifications/Therapeutic_Prescribing_Specialties.cfm|title=Therapeutic Prescribing specialties|first=Liz|last=Carr}}</ref>

Optometrists in the United Kingdom are able to diagnose and manage most ocular diseases, and may also undertake further training to perform certain surgical procedures.