Optometry in Ireland Timeline

Articles of Association legally adopted in this year.

The first fulltime course for “Ophthalmic Opticians” opened in DIT Kevin Street.

Ophthalmic Opticians contracted to provide eye examination and spectacle dispensing for the PRSI (Treatment Benefit Scheme).

1970 Health Act set up the health boards and the basis of the medical card scheme Section 66 & 67 of note.

Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme – Medical Card extended to allow Medical Card Holders to have eye examinations with an Optometrist.

SI/540/2003 Update of the Medicines Act to allow Optometrists to use Oxybuprocaine, Tropicamide, Cyclopentolate

Opticians Amendment Act updated the Opticians Act

Amendment of section 48 “advise to seek … “
Cycloplegia allowed
Ready readers – deregulated

Health & Social Care Professional Act – legislation to bring about CORU- Optometry not included in the original.

Medical Practitioners Act allows CORU registrants to ‘practice medicine’ and not be in breach of Act – for the purpose of the profession (note section 38)

FEMPI – Legislation that cut remuneration for PRSI & Medical – new scale of fees mentioned in legislation.

FEMPI – has been updated a few times, 2015 version, allowed for increase of fees under original cut.

2014 Health (misc Providers) Act – the legislation that repealed the Opticians Board and brought Optometry & Optics under the governance of CORU – definitoin of spectacles & contact lenses.

Commencement order to Repeal Opticians Act and usher optometry into CORU for the 1st November 2015.

SI 80/2018- Legislation creating new ‘rules’ around Sale & Supply of contact lenses

SI 35/2020 Creation of a bye-law to formally recognise the TU Dublin degree as a registerable qualification in Ireland

SI 81/2021 – Legislation allowing Optometrists to qualify as vaccinators and administer epinephrine and vaccines by injection.

AOI changes trading name to Optometry Ireland.