AOA Joins Collaborative Project Team to Assess the Safety and Compliance of Prescriptive Eyewear Sold Online
The American Optometric Association has joined with the Optical Laboratories Association and The Vision Council to study the safety and compliance ofprescriptive eyewear ordered online. Karl Citek, OD, PhD, Chair of AOA's Commission, will represent the organization in the task force. The American Optometric Association will fully participate in this project to learn more about prescriptive eyewear marketed and ordere online, focusing on current eyewear parameters and materials that affect patient safety.
"Our primary concern is the safety of the public ordering their glasses from the internet," says Beth Kneib, OD, Associate Director of Quality Improvement for the AOA. "Preliminary studies of online dispensing sites not uner the direct control of the prescribing doctor have raised concerns in the areas of prescriptive accuracy, material safety, and regulatory compliance of some online vendors. We look forward to working together with experts from the Optical Laboratories Association and The Vision Council on this important public health and safety initiative," said Dr. Kneib.
Randolph Brooks, OD, President of the AOA, added, " While we believe the ideal way for consumer to obtain their eyewear is directly from their optometrist, we realize that eyeglasses e-commerce is becoming an undeniable reality in today's optical industry. Recoginzing those two facts, we believe it's crucial to provide our members the tools to best meet their patients' needs while supporting their practice."
AOA's priorities for the project are to first, assure patient safety and seller regulatory compliance, and secondly, assess ways to best prepare its members for the future of eye care with doctor driven competitive solutions to thrive in the growing world of online dispensing. The results of the study will be made available to its members at its completion.
