Dimapur, April 19 (MExN): The Nagaland Optometric Association (NOA) on Tuesday drew attention to the urgent need for regulations with regard to optical shops and clinics in the state.
“The optical shops in Nagaland are presently registered and managed by the municipal and trade bodies, however the quality of the human resources running them is mostly found to be unreliable,” the NOA stated in a press release, while maintaining that persons having no education in the field of eye care are running these shops, and putting the eye health of the citizens at risk.
Lamenting that no higher authorities have come up to regulate the optical shops run by non-professionals, the NOA stated that it was “compelled to establish some criteria for existing and upcoming opticals.”
In this connection, the NOA stipulated that all upcoming Optical shops or clinics are to be owned and managed by Eye Care practitioners (Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Ophthalmic Assistant).
Existing optical shops who have employed Eye Care Practitioners (ECP) for the past 10 years or more are to remain functional provided the ECP is qualified and has professional license/registration from Central and State bodies, it said. It also directed optical shops without ECP to stop dispensing powered glasses and contact lenses; and to label the shop as ‘Spectacle shop selling spectacle frames and sunglasses only.’
A person who has certificate in dispensing will not be allowed to work independently; he or she should work under the supervision of an ECP only.
“NOA being the parent body of Optometrist and Ophthalmic Assistant in the state, no other association/union will be allowed to regulate the profession and its mission of ensuring quality eye care in Nagaland,” it asserted.
It also informed that these criteria would come into immediate effect and would be functional until local municipal authorities bring up new regulations for optical trade. If anyone is found defaulting the criteria, strict legal actions will be taken, it cautioned.
