Professional regulation and standards
Optometrists and dispensing opticians are regulated by CORU and ophthalmologists by the Medical Council.
Regulation in primary eye care
CORU was set up under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and is the statutory regulator for optometrists and dispensing opticians in Ireland. It approves qualifications and maintains registers of optometrists and dispensing opticians who are qualified to provide eye care services in Ireland.
The following qualifications have been approved by CORU:
- Bachelor of Science in Optometry, TU Dublin
- Bachelor of Science in Ophthalmic Dispensing, TU Dublin
All CORU registrations are expected to adhere to their specific code of conduct and ethics:
- Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Optometrists. This code specifies the standards of ethics, conduct and performance expected of registered optometrists.
- Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Dispensing Opticians. This code specifies the standards of ethics, conduct and performance expected of registered dispensing opticians.
A condition of FODO Ireland membership is that registrant members comply with codes of conduct set by CORU’s Optical Registration Board.
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The Opticians Act 1956 established the Opticians Board/Bord na Radharcmhastóirí and the legal functions, training and registration requirements for optometrists and dispensing opticians in Ireland.
The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 established CORU, Ireland’s first multi-profession health regulator. In February 2015, the Minister for Health established the Optical Registration Board at CORU and on 31 October optometrists and dispensing opticians registered with the Opticians Board/Bord na Radharcmhastóirí were automatically transferred to the Optical Registration Board at CORU.
The Registration Board is set up to protect the public and it does this by:
- Approving and monitoring education and training programmes
- Establishing and maintaining a register of optometrists and dispensing opticians
- Supporting high standards of professional conduct – e.g. through developing and maintaining profession specific codes of conduct and ethics.
The Health and Social Care Professions Act 2005 sets out the legislative framework for regulating healthcare professionals, including optometrists and dispensing opticians, sight testing, prescribing and the sale and dispensing of optical appliances.
- Health & Social Care Professions Act 2005
- Recognition of Professional Qualifications Regulations 2008
- Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014
- Optical Registration Board Bye-Laws
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 sets out the requirements for Garda Vetting, which is required for anyone who has access or contact with children or vulnerable persons.
Regulation of ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses and orthoptists
Ophthalmologists are regulated by the Medical Council. To become an ophthalmologist, doctors registered with the Medical Council can apply to enter the basic training programmes in medical ophthalmology and surgical ophthalmology. These training programmes are run by the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, which acts as the Medical Council’s only accredited postgraduate body for these programmes. Ophthalmologists are expected to follow the Medical Council’s Eight Domains of Good Professional Practice.
Ophthalmic nurses are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Nurses have their own Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.
There are plans to bring orthoptists into statutory regulation by introducing a CORU register for orthoptists.
Updates
Originally published: November 2020
Reviewed: NA
Next review date: November 2022
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