Spectacles and prescriptions

Searcher

I was always under the impression that it was illegal to dispense glasses on a prescription more than 2 years old.

I know that most online glasses suppliers will not dispense if the prescription is over 2 years old and it's not like you are going to go for them for an eye test.

chocdonuty

Not sure why someone would want glasses with a four year old prescription, your eyesight may have changed plus opticians look at a lot more than your sight, many health problems can be picked up during the examination.
Ok so the assistant may have said the wrong thing but there is a very good reason sight tests are 1/2 years apart.
There is always somewhere where you can get a free eye test so look around.

mttylad

Actually if you read the acts it is illegal to dispense medicines/medical aids on a prescription that is older then 6 months.

Although I cannot find the precise bit about optical equipment and am unsure if the GOC rules are legally binding, any optician/dispensing optician that wants to keep their license has to follow the GOC rules.

See
http://www.optical.org/goc/filemanager/root/site_assets/legislation/rules_and_regulations/sale1984.pdf

2a(ii)
bears a date not more than two years before the
day on which it is presented to the seller for the
purposes of the sale;

So a 4 year old prescription is way out of date, also your eyes may have changed considerably in that time. It is pure stupidity to get glasses on such an old prescription.

neilmcl

The GOC website states the following:

Criminal offences established by the Opticians Act

• Testing of sight while unregistered (section 24)
• Fitting of contact lenses while unregistered (section 25)
• Sales of optical appliances (eg spectacles or contact lenses) which do not meet the requirements set out in the Opticians Act and/or the Sale of Optical Appliances Order of Council (section 27)
• Use of a protected title while unregistered (section 28)

Thus it does seem that an optician cannot lawfully sell glasses/contact lenses based on a prescription older than 2 years.

tidus

mttylad wrote: »

Actually if you read the acts it is illegal to dispense medicines/medical aids on a prescription that is older then 6 months.

Although I cannot find the precise bit about optical equipment and am unsure if the GOC rules are legally binding, any optician/dispensing optician that wants to keep their license has to follow the GOC rules.

See
http://www.optical.org/goc/filemanager/root/site_assets/legislation/rules_and_regulations/sale1984.pdf



So a 4 year old prescription is way out of date, also your eyes may have changed considerably in that time. It is pure stupidity to get glasses on such an old prescription.

Its a horrible document but you've misread it. The bit you quote relates to unregistered sellers. The vast majority of high street "opticians" are registered and employ registered optometrists and dispensing opticians.

In other words, a "proper" optician is not bound by the 2 year rule and can use an older prescription if they are happy to do it.