General Optical Council

Policy and research papers

One of our strategic priorities is an improved evidence base for making regulatory decisions. We want to ensure that our work is informed by an understanding of the public’s perspective and how optical care for patients is changing. On this page we will publish policy and research papers that contribute to this work.

 

 Registrant survey 

2021

Almost 5,000 registrants responded to our online survey, which asked registrants about their views and perceptions of the GOC and their experiences of working in clinical practice.

GOC Registrant Survey 2021 - Research Report Edit | Delete

GOC Registrant Survey Infographic 2021 Edit | Delete

 

2016

We surveyed over 4,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical students. We will be releasing the research in three volumes.

Volume 1: The Future of the Optical Professions
Volume 2: Challenges in the Workplace
Volume 3: The GOC's Role and Regulatory Performance

GOC Registrant Survey 2016 - Full Report Edit | Delete

GOC Registrant Survey 2016 - Volume 1 Edit | Delete

Volume 1 Infographic Edit | Delete

GOC Registrant Survey 2016 - Volume 2 Edit | Delete

Volume 2 Infographic Edit | Delete

GOC Registrant Survey 2016 - Volume 3 Edit | Delete

Volume 3 Infographic (a) Edit | Delete

Volume 3 Infographic (b) Edit | Delete

 

2016-18 CET cycle evaluation report 

Following a review of the data we hold within our MyCET administrative online platform, we published the final report of the evaluation of the 2016-18 Continuing Education and Training (CET) cycle. 

The review analysed data from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018 in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the CET scheme, identify trends in registrant behaviour and identify any future developments required.

We published the report in October 2019. 

2016-18 CET cycle evaluation report

 

Vision and Driving Report 

In October 2017 we commissioned a research agency to undertake research with GOC registrants and the public in relation to vision and safe driving. 

A mixed quantitative and qualitative approach was taken to this research in the form of online surveys and focus groups with the general public and with registrants. The full research report is now available.

General Optical Council Vision and Driving Research - Final Report.pdf

 

Summary of Responses to the GOC's Education Strategic Review 2017

In December 2016 we published a call for evidence on our Education Strategic Review asking for feedback on a total of 17 wide-ranging questions about the future of eye care delivery and the implications of these changes for the education of optical professions. We received a total of 55 responses to our call for evidence between 15 December 2016 and 16 March 2017. 

We have now published a Summary of the Responses to the call for evidence, along with an annex of all responses where consent was given for publication.

Summary of Responses to the GOC's Education Strategic Review 2017

ANNEX ONE - Education Strategic Review consultation responses public

Accessing Efficiency and Efficacy Gains in Health Professional Regulation

We wished to explore the topic of shared functions within the context of the healthcare professional regulators in the UK and, in particular, the extent to which some sharing options would be effective and cost-efficient whilst protecting patient health and safety. 

Accessing Efficiency and Efficacy Gains in Health Professional Regulation

 

 Illegal practice

As part of our illegal practice strategy we commissioned research from Europe Economics assessing the health risks associated with illegal optical practice. The report was published in March 2014.

Europe Economics report: health risk assessment for illegal optical practice

As part of our illegal practice strategy we committed to further research and intelligence-gathering.

 Research into behaviour of contact lens wearers

As the Europe Economics report had identified safety issues relating to the online purchase of contact lenses we commissioned BMG Research to help us to understand more about the behaviour of contact lens wearers. We published the research report in February 2016.

Contact lens survey research report

Contact lens research - slides from February Council meeting presentation

Contact Lens Cross Breaks Data Tables

BMG Research has also produced an article on its website with data tables that can be interrogated. The link to the article is available here: http://www.bmgresearch.co.uk/general-optical-council-contact-lenses/

If any further analysis or use of this data is made, please ensure that the GOC and the BMG research report are appropriately referenced, and that the information used is in the public interest.

 Standards

As part of our consultation on developing new standards for the optical profession, we commissioned Collaborate Research to conduct a stakeholder consultation on our proposed standards of practice. The consultation report was published in July 2015.
Standards for optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical students - Consultation report

 Public perceptions

As part of our research strategy we have commissioned four pieces of research into public perceptions of the optical professions and the General Optical Council:

Public perceptions research 2021

Public perceptions research 2019

Public perceptions research 2019 - infographic

Public perceptions research 2019 - Data Tabulations

Public perceptions research 2017
Public perceptions research 2017 - infographic
Public perceptions research 2017 - glaucoma patients

Public perceptions research 2016

Public perceptions research 2015

 

 Stakeholder perceptions survey

In August 2016 we surveyed senior people from 30 of our key stakeholders about their perceptions of the GOC and their views on the future of the optical professions:

Stakeholder Perceptions Survey 2016

 Optical sector report

Each year we carry out desk-based research on recent developments in the optical sector and the wider environment, to identify the trends and the implications for regulation.

Strategic themes paper

Optical sector report 2014

Optical sector report 2014-15

 

 Adjustable focus spectacles

We were contacted in 2014 by Adlens Ltd who had approached Government to request a change in the Opticians Act 1989 to allow for the sale of adjustable focus spectacles over the counter without a prescription. We have been in discussions with Adlens and the Department of Health about the potential consequences of over the counter sale of adjustable focus spectacles, following a report produced by Adlens provided to us in March 2015.

To help inform the Department of Health in considering this matter further we commissioned an independent report from Professor William Neil Charman, to give a view on whether the paper produced by Adlens provided sufficient evidence to assure that the public’s health and safety would not be adversely affected if there was a change in the law to allow for the sale of adjustable focus spectacles over the counter.  We also asked what further evidence might be required if the case was not sufficiently made.

We also sought the views of our Standards Committee in October 2015, asking for their views on any benefits that adjustable focus spectacles might bring and any adverse effects that these products might have on the public’s health and safety if they were to be made available over the counter without a prescription.

We provided the Department of Health with Professor Charman’s report and the views of our Standards Committee in October 2015. We note that some stakeholders have called for legislative change to permit the unsupervised sale of all adjustable focus spectacles. Such a change in the law would be a matter for the Government not the GOC. Our view is that, before considering a change to the law, the Government should consult openly and carry out a regulatory impact assessment in order to identify the full range of likely impacts and avoid unintended consequences.

The report from Adlens, Professor Charman’s report and the views of our Standards Committee are available below:

Adlens' regulatory paper

Professor Charman's report

GOC Standards Committee's note

You can also read our statement from May 2017 in respect of adjustable focus spectacles.

 

Risk in the optical professions

 

2019

In 2019, we commissioned Enventure Research to undertake a review of risk in the optical professions of optometrists and dispensing opticians.

Risk in the optical professions - Final Report

Risk in the optical professions - Infographic

 

2010

In 2010, we commissioned Europe Economics for this research report, which presents an investigation and assessment of the competency risks inherent in optical practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians, as well as any contextual factors that may influence the likelihood of these risks.  It was compiled as part of our development of a revalidation process –– as directed by the Government’s Non-medical Revalidation Working Group –– and has informed the risk profiling of its members. 

Europe Economics: Risks in the optical profession