A recent review of complaints about optometrists has confirmed the vast majority of optometrists in Australia provide safe and effective care, with the profession drawing fewer complaints than the average for all regulated health professions. 

The review, conducted by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency on behalf of the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA), included every complaint made between 1 July 2010 to 31 December 2017. During this period, 5.6% of registered optometrists had one or more complaint lodged about them, overall reflecting a high standard of care, said Ian Bluntish, OBA chair.  

Dissatisfaction with treatment for refractive error was the most common single issue identified by the review. While generally not the main issue, communication issues were an underlying theme for many complaints. 

“One thing the board learned from the review is that optometrists need to be very careful in setting realistic expectations about clinical care, particularly around prescribing spectacles or contact lenses,” said Bluntish.