Optometry and Dispensing Opticians
Overview
Optometry is an autonomous, regulated (licensed/registered) healthcare profession and Optometrists are the primary providers of vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.
We are constituted in terms of the Regulations relating to the Constitution of the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians, Regulation No. R. 1250 of 28 November 2008. The current Board will be in office until 2025.
The following professions are registered under our auspices, namely:
- Dispensing Opticians
- Student Dispensing Opticians
- Supplementary Optical Dispensers
- Student Supplementary Optical Dispensers
- Supplementary Optometrists
- Optometrists
- Student Optometrists
- Orthoptists
Board Members
Board members are responsible for the establishment of Committees and the appointment of chairpersons of Committees.
Background
In terms of Regulation 2 of the Regulations relating to the functions and functioning of the Professional Board, the Professional Board at its first meeting each year, has to appoint Committees which would function until the first meeting of the Professional Board in the following year.
The Board also appoints the Chairperson of each Committee, except in the case of the Executive Committee of the Professional Board, which is chaired by the Chairperson of the Professional Board. The composition, quorum and terms of reference of each Committee have to be determined by the Professional Board.
| Board Members | |
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| Chairperson | Ms Y Naidoo |
| Vice -Chairperson | Mr F Nxumalo |
| Board Members |
Ms A de la Rey Prof L Sithole Mr S Gumede Ms N Moloto Ms C Botha Mr F Mphaga Prof P Mashige Mr V Khanyile Mr C Mohalaba Mr L Gabela Mr M Phala |
Announcements
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Notice to Practitioners Opening of Optometry Practices |
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Pretoria – The Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians has been inundated with queries from practitioners on whether they can start operating their practices during Level 4 of the current lockdown due to COVID-19. The Board would like to provide the following guidance in due consideration that level 4 lockdown is not business as usual >>> read more |
| Expanded List of Medicines for Use by Optometrists in Ocular Therapeutics |
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The Minister of Health has, in terms of section 22A (2) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act,1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965), on the recommendation of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), made and updated the Schedules. |
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Scope Infringement on "Hearing Assessment" and "Fitting of Hearing Aids Performed by other Practitioners and/or "Frontline" Staff in Optometry/Dispensing Opticianry Practice |
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Following numerous queries and complaints received by the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (“the Professional Board”) regarding the performance of certain clinical and professional acts falling within the scope of the Speech, Language and Hearing Professions by practitioners registered within the profession of Optometry and Dispensing Opticians who are not qualified and competent to perform such clinical acts. The Professional Boards for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians and Speech, Language and Hearing Professions saw it fit to remind, inform and educate practitioners and the members of public that >>> read more
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Policy and Guidelines
The guidelines for the Board include the Ethical Rules of Conduct in respect of which we may take disciplinary steps.
| Exam Guidelines | View document |
| Restoration Guidelines | View document |
| Guidelines for Volunteer Practitioner | View document |
| Foreign Qualified Practitioners Guidelines | View document |
| Checklist for Evaluation of Documents Submitted by Foreign Qualified Practitioners | View document |
| Clinical Guidelines | |
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| Basic eye exam | View document |
| Fitting of contact lenses | View document |
| Vision screening and mobile | View document |
| Low vision | View document |
| Children - Vision screen | View document |
| Minimum Equipment lists | View document |
| Mobile Practice Guidelines | |
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| Mobile Practice guidelines | View document |
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Application form for operating a Mobile Practice |
View document |
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Approved applications for license to operate a Mobile Practice |
View document |
| Guidelines for Supervised Practise | |
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| Guidelines | View document |
| Annexure A | View document |
| Annexure B | View document |
Rules & Regulations
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The rules and regulations of the Board include the following: |
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Constitution of the Board |
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Proposed regulations and rules |
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Proposed amendments to the regulations defining the scope of the profession of optometry - GN R804 / GG 33546 / 20100915 |
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Regulations |
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Regulations relating to the conditions under which registered orthoptists may practice their profession – GN R2364/76 |
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Regulations relating to the registration of optometry students – GN R1845/77 |
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Regulations relating to the registration by optometrists of additional qualifications – GN R1103/84 |
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Regulations relating to the constitution of the professional board for optometry and dispensing opticians – GN R1250/2008 |
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Regulations relating to names that may not be used in relation to the profession of optometry – GN 1212/2004 |
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Regulations defining the scope of the profession of optometry and dispensing opticians – GN R280 / GG 29748 / 20070405 |
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Rules |
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Rules relating to the registration of optometrists – BN 108/96 |
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Rules for the registration of dispensing optician – BN 5/98 |
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Rules for the registration of orthoptists |
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Rules relating to continuing education and training in optometry and dispensing opticians – BN 49/2002 (Repealed by BN 29 / GG 29716 / 20070323) |
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