Health Professions Council of South Africa 'concerned' over unauthorised online eyewear sales

Zain Johnson speaks to Doctor Nabeela Hasrod, Head of Education and Clinical Standards Committee of the South African Optometric Association and Yurisa Naidoo, Chairperson of Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO).

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the South African Optometric Association (SAOA) issued a statement stating they are concerned by the increasing trend of various online retailers who market prescription spectacles and contact lenses without proper eye examinations by authorised and registered practitioners. 

This illegal practice poses a serious threat to the health of the public. 

The public is urged to obtain spectacles and contact lenses only from registered optometrists and dispensing opticians to ensure accurate diagnoses and proper prescriptions. 

Purchasing spectacles or cosmetic contact lenses from online or in-store unregistered retailers without a thorough examination by a registered practitioner, is not advised. 

There's a danger purchasing unprescribed glasses, contact lenses or sunglasses online or over the counter, says Hasrod.

Naidoo also emphasises that cosmetic contact lenses are also medical devices which should also be prescribed by a medical professional. 

While some eye medical devices might be cheap and convenient online or at flea markets, "you're being penny wise and vision foolish in the end," says Hasrod. 

"It's not illegal to buy reading glasses from retail stores or pharmacies because those glasses are meeting certain regulatory criteria... those glasses also come with a warning label saying you have to go for a regular eye test... but these glasses aren't the problem... it's prescribed glasses being sold online without prescriptions."

- Doctor Nabeela Hasrod, Head of Education and Clinical Standards Committee of the South African Optometric Association

"Spectacles and contact lenses are medical devices, so the manufacturing and sales of these devices are regulated by SAHPRA which is the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, so when devices are sold online, there is no assurance that the lenses you receive are manufactured according to the prescription and measurements that would've been specified... so there's no way to verify the quality of the product... you don't know what spectacles you're getting, or the quality..."

- Doctor Nabeela Hasrod, Head of Education and Clinical Standards Committee of the South African Optometric Association

"... And it could happen that if you get spectacles that's not your correct prescription or contact lenses that have been received or stored in a correct manner, it can damage your vision or your eyes."

- Doctor Nabeela Hasrod, Head of Education and Clinical Standards Committee of the South African Optometric Association

Medical devices for eyes sold without proper prescription by a healthcare professional also violates the healthcare act and may lead to vision threatening issues. 

"If a practitioner is not registered with the Health Professions Council [SAHPRA] then they cannot legally practice their profession."

- Yurisa Naidoo, Chairperson of Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO)

"The problem we're experiencing in relation to the product is that there's been a recent surge in the commotion of the online sale of optical devices."

- Yurisa Naidoo, Chairperson of Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO)

"It's definitely not okay to purchase something online from an unregulated supplier and without being examined by a regulated professional."

- Yurisa Naidoo, Chairperson of Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO)

You should only be able to purchase spectacles or contact lenses from a regulated and certified professional.

The health professions council are investigating illegal sales of eyewear and 'necessary action will be taken,' after investigations, says Naidoo. 

Practitioners' credentials can be verified through the HPCSA’s online iRegister. 

Any suspected illegal activity should be reported immediately to the HPCSA at InspectorateOffice@hpcsa.co.za. 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.