Good afternoon everyone. On behalf of your Executive Committee of the Nova Scotia Society of Dispensing Opticians, I would like to welcome you all to this year’s annual general meeting.
There have been important changes to Opticianry over the last year. Most significant, for better and worse, is the decision by British Columbia’s Minister of Health Services, Kevin Falcon, to allow Optician’s of that province to perform Automated Sight Testing and also, regrettably, to legally protect the unregulated selling of glasses and contact lenses on-line. These new regulations came into effect in B.C. yesterday.
Earlier this month, as President of your professional association, I sent a letter to B.C. Minister Falcon. I thanked him for his decision to allow Optician performed Automated Sight Testing in that province. Logically he determined that, with the proper training, Opticians can provide a safe, accurate and cost effective alternative to determine one’s visual needs. Hopefully this decision will set a precedent that will benefit the public and expand the scope of practice of Opticians across the country.
However, in the letter I also expressed my serious concerns to Health Minister Falcon of his decision to allow the unregulated selling of glasses and contact lenses online in British Columbia. Online companies reap the profits from sales but do not take the responsibility for their products when problems develop. Who adjusts the glasses to fit? Who explains how progressive lenses work to a first time wearer? What if the customer can’t see properly with the glasses?
With contact lenses, the risks can be even more serious. The contact lens wearer is not required to see a Contact Lens Fitter or Optometrist for periodic rechecks to ensure that no complications are developing, such as from over wearing or improper cleaning. The wearer may not realize problems are developing until they become acute. The results can be disastrous for the individual. When any problems develop, the response of the on-line companies is to “take it to your local Optician”. However, I reminded Health Minister Falcon that glasses or contact lenses bought elsewhere, whether on-line or not, are not the responsibility of another optical store. The on-line companies must be made accountable for their own products, and public safety.
As the new regulations stand in British Columbia, the Nova Scotia Society of Dispensing Opticians, in concert with many Eye Care Professional organizations across the country, strongly opposes the unregulated selling of glasses and contact lenses online and fears it creates a dangerous precedent that could spread across Canada. As of today, I have not yet received a response from Minister Falcon.
On a more positive note, you have heard from Robert Dalton, President and soon to be Executive Director of the OAC, about the exciting new national Optician branding campaign. This will give the public a better understanding of our profession and our value. I look forward; as I’m sure all of you do, to the upcoming television advertisements. I’m proud to announce that your Executive Committee donated $10,000 towards this important promotion. Let’s face it, the Optometrists have advertised their profession, successfully, for years and it is high time we do so ourselves. Make sure to check out the website
With Opticians now being able to perform Automated Sight Testing in BC, it is hoped that this precedent will provide new momentum for the Sight Testing Committee here, set up by the Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians. As a member of that committee, along with College members Robert MacLeod and John Butler, and new Chairperson Robert Dalton, I had a chance to speak with Nova Scotia Health Minister Maureen MacDonald at a Meet and Greet last July. I explained to her the interest of Opticians to expand our scope of practice to include Sight Testing and how this would benefit the public. She suggested that a meeting be set up in the future to further explore this proposal. The Sight Testing Committee is also hopeful it can create a common front with similar groups in the other three Atlantic Provinces so we can provide a stronger regional voice to our shared goal of Optician performed Sight Testing.
The NSSDO responded to the need by Opticians (members and non-members) for last minute Continuing Education credits in March. In co-operation with the Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians and Essilor, free seminars were held that were attended by over 80 Opticians. While the Executive of the NSSDO is happy to have been able to help those Opticians short of their required credits to maintain their license this year, we cannot do so every year. We understand that the need for extra seminars was largely due to the increase and different categories of credits required by the College starting last year. Now that we all have a better understanding of the Con Ed requirements, there will no longer be a last minute rush to have seminars in March. Between the eight credits being offered today, five by Mike’s Optical Seminars, four free OAC on-line credits with your membership (you can buy more if you wish) and perhaps in-house seminars by your employer, that should be more than enough opportunities for everyone. Please let your co-workers know who could not attend today.
With being granted Preferred Provider Status of Continuing Education Credits by the Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians, there have been important changes to our seminars starting this year. The Society will be moving away from seminars by the Optical and Contact Lens companies. In its place, we will be offering more medically related presentations by guest speakers. Your Executive Committee hopes you will enjoy the change.
The Executive has unfortunately been experiencing some problems with the Society website. There have been some complaints of Opticians not being able view certain windows. We apologize for the inconvenience to our membership and we are in the process of rectifying these glitches.
Andrew Connolly, can you raise your hand so everyone knows where you are? Andrew has kindly donated today Optical equipment to the Education Committee for use by the students. On behalf of the Executive of the NSSDO, and all members present, I would like to sincerely thank him for his generosity. No doubt, years of students will be able to learn from what equipment Andrew has donated. And where is Joyce Hiltz? For those of you who did not hear through the Optical grapevine, Joyce won skis at the OAC Visions Canada convention when it was here in Halifax during early November 2008. Her name was also put into a draw to win tickets to the Vancouver Olympics, and she won! Did you have a great time? That’s great! Congratulations!
I am very grateful to be able to announce that we have over 80 Opticians in attendance at today’s AGM and over 160 paid Society and OAC members. This is a significant increase to both over recent years. To those who have not been members in the last few years and have returned, thank you. To those who have steadfastly supported the Society and attended the AGM’s every year, thank you. It is my sincere wish that as many Opticians in the province as possible join the NSSDO. The Executive needs your ideas, and criticisms, in order to make the Society better. The larger we are as a professional association, the stronger our voice. This is vital in order to promote objectives such as Sight Testing and oppose threats to our profession and public health, such as the on-line Optical companies.
All of the present members of your Executive Committee are re-offering their names for another two year term. However, we are always looking for new people with a love of their profession who have new ideas and energy. Is there anyone who is interested in putting their name forward or knows of someone they would like to nominate? I ask again, would someone like to put their name, or someone else’s name, forward to join the Executive? For the third and final time, would someone like to put their name, or someone else’s name, forward to join the Executive? Thank you.
Finally, I would like to thank my Executive for all of their hard work over the last year. Earle King, as Vice President, with his wealth of knowledge and experience, Michelle Ashford and KeriShay Rennie on the Education Committee, making the Optician and Contact Lens courses seem to run so effortlessly. Aurora Ulloa-Parsons and Sue King of the Advertising Committee, promoting Opticianry within the province and helping out with the Education Committee when need be. Most of all, I’d like to thank Kathy Gustys for all of her tireless work. She was taking registrations for the free March seminars while on vacation in Florida! The Society would have no hope of running as efficiently as it does without her.
Respectfully submitted this 2nd day of May, 2010
Rick Brimble
President, NSSDO
OAC Rep Report
May 2, 2010
British Columbia: The Minister of Health Kevin Falcon has as of yesterday made some impacting changes to both the optometric and opticians professional regulations. The Minister has decided that there is no risk of harm to unlicensed individuals dispensing eye glasses and refilling contact lens. The result of this legislation will mean that the health consumer of British Columbia will be free to choose the level of service they want. The upside of this new legislation is British Columbia is the first province to have licensed opticians performing independent sight assessments. This is a true scope of practice increase for Opticians of that province.
The OAC has been both intellectually and financially involved in lobbying the government in British Columbia for such a scope of practice. We have submitted paper after paper on the benefits and the lack of risk for opticians to sight test. While we never dreamed that the health minister would remove eyeglasses from the exclusive scope of the Optician and optometrist, we are aware that health consumers in every province are now purchasing glasses and contacts online. How do you battle the internet? How do we compete? The OAC through advertising and public awareness campaigns will educate the public so as they can make informed choices involving their eye health and visual appliances.
Alberta: continues to have refracting with sign off by ophthalmology and refracting MD’s The Alberta association of opticians has positioned itself for a very aggressive campaign for a scope of practice not just for standalone manual refraction but for some diagnostic testing of ocular health where permitted by technology.
Saskatchewan: Has begun their scope of practice initiative. Early stages
Manitoba: We have read their regulator’s policy on the release of prescription and Pd’s. This Policy was developed in conjunction with the legal profession and with the federal privacy laws.
Ontario: There are refracting opticians presently in Ontario. They are practicing under the guidelines s and standards set by the Ontario College of Opticians. The OAC just partnered with the Opticians Association of Ontario for “inside optics” which is a full day con ed event.
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island are in the early stages of attempting to engage a “memorandum of understanding “on Sight testing.
Robert Dalton
Executive Director ,OAC