Optometrists and Opticians (Exemption from Section 25(1)) Order 2008

No. S 91

Optometrists and Opticians Act 2007

(Act 36 of 2007)

Optometrists and Opticians (Exemption from Section 25(1)) Order 2008

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 35(1) of the Optometrists and Opticians Act 2007, the Minister for Health hereby makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Optometrists and Opticians (Exemption from Section 25(1)) Order 2008 and shall come into operation on 22nd February 2008.

Exemption of licensed contact lens practitioners under repealed Act

2. —(1) A person who is deemed to be registered as an optician pursuant to section 41(1) of the Act is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the acts or activities specified in items 2, 5 and 6 in Part II of the Schedule to the Act, where such acts or activities relate to contact lenses.

(2) Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) shall affect the liability of a person in tort or under the Act for professional misconduct or negligence in relation to the provision of optometry services involving contact lenses.

Exemption of orthoptists

3. A person who had obtained a degree in orthoptics or an equivalent qualification, as the Board may approve, prior to 1st January 2008 is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the performance of refraction and binocular vision tests to detect abnormalities of the eye, provided that such acts or activities are carried out under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.

Exemption of manufacturers of, and wholesale dealers in, optical appliances

4. A person who is a manufacturer of, or a wholesale dealer in, optical appliances is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the supply of optical appliances , where such optical appliances are supplied in the ordinary course of business to any of the following persons:

(a)	any optometrist, optician or ophthalmologist;
(b)	any hospital, clinic, nursing home or other institution providing medical or surgical treatment;
(c)	any institution or other body for the purpose of education or research;
(d)	any Government department;
(e)	any other person for the sole purpose of export.

Exemption of suppliers of reading glasses, etc.

5. .—(1) A person who is a supplier of reading glasses or swimming goggles with optical power is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the supply of reading glasses or swimming goggles with optical power.

(2) In this paragraph, “reading glasses” means a pair of ready-made, non-prescribed, biconvex lenses that have the same positive spherical power not exceeding 4 dioptres and are used solely to correct, remedy or relieve presbyopia.

Exemption of registered medical practitioners

6. A medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174) is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the acts or activities specified in Part II of the Schedule to the Act, where such acts or activities are carried out as part of his practice of medicine.

Exemption of medical students

7. A person who is undergoing a course of instruction to obtain a degree in medicine and surgery from the National University of Singapore is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the acts or activities specified in item 3 of Part II of the Schedule to the Act, where such acts or activities are carried out as part of his course of instruction.

Exemption of registered nurses

8. A registered nurse under the Nurses and Midwives Act (Cap. 209) is hereby exempted from section 25(1) of the Act in relation to the acts or activities specified in item 3(a) of Part II of the Schedule to the Act, where such acts or activities are carried out under the supervision of a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act.

Made this 19th day of February 2008.

YONG YING-I

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Health,
Singapore.

[MH 78:24; AG/LEG/SL/213A/2007/2 Vol. 1]

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