history


Optometry in Australia Nineteenth century Australians received their vision care from a variety of sources including so-called 'sight-testing opticians', jewellers, watch makers and travelling hawkers. In those days it was common not to charge for the sight-testing part of the transaction, only for the spectacles. Opticians (the forerunner of today's optometrists) lacked professional identity, seeing themselves as retailers. Between 1905 and 1920 the opticians began to group together and formed professional societies. The Australian Optometrical Association was formed as a national body in 1918. With the formation of these bodies a professional identity emerged. The professional bodies set out to lay down codes of behaviour and educational standards for those who called themselves opticians. Governmental recognition of professional status through registration was the first primary aim of the infant profession. Education was fundamental to the achievement of this goal. The first optometric course was established by the Institute of Ophthalmic Opticians of Queensland in 1909, with courses being set up in other states soon after. By 1920 the forerunner of Clinical and Experimental Optometry was produced. Opticians began to call themselves optometrists, following the example of their American counterparts. The Australian profession was to follow the American example by placing a biological science, rather than a physical science emphasis on training. Legislation restricting optometric practice to those adequately trained was difficult to achieve and faced strong medical opposition. In 1913 Tasmania became the first state to have legislation enacted which required registration of optometrists. It took over 20 years for the rest of the states to follow suit. The first registration of optometrists in the world occurred in Minnesota, USA in 1901. British optometrists were not registered until 1958! Organised ophthalmology attempted to restrict the progress of the optometric profession in a variety of ways and in the 1930's ophthalmologists established OPSM. This had the desired effect of reducing the number of ophthalmologists' prescriptions dispensed by optometrists. In turn OPSM allowed ophthalmologists to maintain an interest in dispensing from a suitable distance. OPSM's advertising and shop fronts made it possible for ophthalmologists to recruit patients. Ophthalmologists' opposition was also based on claims of inadequate educational standards for optometrists. Nevertheless the ophthalmologists refused to provide optometrists with any form of teaching which might raise the standard. In 1943 the ophthalmologists at the Eye and Ear hospital threatened to strike rather than to teach optometrists. This situation remains unaltered to this day. Optometry's advancement as a legitimate clinical science received a boost in 1939 when it was included as a distinct section within the congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS). In 1952 when the first Australian national health scheme was introduced benefits for consultations with optometrists were not included. Optometry won a pyrrhic victory in having included in to the legislation regulation which prevented ophthalmologists' patients receiving benefits when spectacles were prescribed. It was easy to circumvent this regulation and the proportion of patients seen by optometrists declined dramatically. It seemed likely the profession would die. The AOA struggled against the discriminatory legislation with little effect for over 20 years until the Labor party came to power. In 1975 the Whitlam Government introduced Medibank (which was dismantled later and resurrected as Medicare in 1984), and as a result of intense political activity by the AOA optometry was included in the national health scheme. After 23 years, optometrists' patients were on equal standing with those of ophthalmologists. The profession once again began to thrive. Since those heady days of 1975 optometry has consolidated its standing in the community. In 1977 veterans, considered an at-risk group, were allowed to consult with optometrists for the first time. Restrictions on use of ophthalmic drugs by optometrists have gradually been relaxed. Progressively all sorts of authorities are recognising the professional standing and expertise of optometrists and are approaching optometry when advice on vision care is required. In 1993, the AOA and its members were able to overturn a Government decision to remove Medicare benefits for most optometric consultations. This campaign showed the great public acceptance of optometry, which is also reflected by the fact that two-thirds of primary eye care consultations are provided by optometrists. The nineties has seen a concerted effort by the profession to the face legislation changes to allow optometrists to use and prescribe therapeutic substances. In 1999, Victoria was the first state to enact legislation. On 25 April 2003 Queensland Health Minister, the Honourable Wendy Edmond MP, announced that she had granted Queensland optometrists access to therapeutic agents based on the comprehensive Victorian list. All other States and Territories are expected to follow.

Optometry in Australia

Nineteenth century Australians received their vision care from a variety of sources including so-called 'sight-testing opticians', jewellers, watch makers and travelling hawkers. In those days it was common not to charge for the sight-testing part of the transaction, only for the spectacles. Opticians (the forerunner of today's optometrists) lacked professional identity, seeing themselves as retailers.

Between 1905 and 1920 the opticians began to group together and formed professional societies. The Australian Optometrical Association was formed as a national body in 1918. With the formation of these bodies a professional identity emerged. The professional bodies set out to lay down codes of behaviour and educational standards for those who called themselves opticians. Governmental recognition of professional status through registration was the first primary aim of the infant profession.

Education was fundamental to the achievement of this goal. The first optometric course was established by the Institute of Ophthalmic Opticians of Queensland in 1909, with courses being set up in other states soon after. By 1920 the forerunner of Clinical and Experimental Optometry was produced. Opticians began to call themselves optometrists, following the example of their American counterparts. The Australian profession was to follow the American example by placing a biological science, rather than a physical science emphasis on training.

Legislation restricting optometric practice to those adequately trained was difficult to achieve and faced strong medical opposition. In 1913 Tasmania became the first state to have legislation enacted which required registration of optometrists. It took over 20 years for the rest of the states to follow suit. The first registration of optometrists in the world occurred in Minnesota, USA in 1901. British optometrists were not registered until 1958!

Organised ophthalmology attempted to restrict the progress of the optometric profession in a variety of ways and in the 1930's ophthalmologists established OPSM. This had the desired effect of reducing the number of ophthalmologists' prescriptions dispensed by optometrists. In turn OPSM allowed ophthalmologists to maintain an interest in dispensing from a suitable distance. OPSM's advertising and shop fronts made it possible for ophthalmologists to recruit patients.

Ophthalmologists' opposition was also based on claims of inadequate educational standards for optometrists. Nevertheless the ophthalmologists refused to provide optometrists with any form of teaching which might raise the standard. In 1943 the ophthalmologists at the Eye and Ear hospital threatened to strike rather than to teach optometrists. This situation remains unaltered to this day.

Optometry's advancement as a legitimate clinical science received a boost in 1939 when it was included as a distinct section within the congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS).

In 1952 when the first Australian national health scheme was introduced benefits for consultations with optometrists were not included. Optometry won a pyrrhic victory in having included in to the legislation regulation which prevented ophthalmologists' patients receiving benefits when spectacles were prescribed. It was easy to circumvent this regulation and the proportion of patients seen by optometrists declined dramatically. It seemed likely the profession would die.

The AOA struggled against the discriminatory legislation with little effect for over 20 years until the Labor party came to power. In 1975 the Whitlam Government introduced Medibank (which was dismantled later and resurrected as Medicare in 1984), and as a result of intense political activity by the AOA optometry was included in the national health scheme. After 23 years, optometrists' patients were on equal standing with those of ophthalmologists. The profession once again began to thrive.

Since those heady days of 1975 optometry has consolidated its standing in the community. In 1977 veterans, considered an at-risk group, were allowed to consult with optometrists for the first time. Restrictions on use of ophthalmic drugs by optometrists have gradually been relaxed. Progressively all sorts of authorities are recognising the professional standing and expertise of optometrists and are approaching optometry when advice on vision care is required.

In 1993, the AOA and its members were able to overturn a Government decision to remove Medicare benefits for most optometric consultations. This campaign showed the great public acceptance of optometry, which is also reflected by the fact that two-thirds of primary eye care consultations are provided by optometrists.

The nineties has seen a concerted effort by the profession to the face legislation changes to allow optometrists to use and prescribe therapeutic substances. In 1999, Victoria was the first state to enact legislation. On 25 April 2003 Queensland Health Minister, the Honourable Wendy Edmond MP, announced that she had granted Queensland optometrists access to therapeutic agents based on the comprehensive Victorian list. All other States and Territories are expected to follow.