PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology (MSO) and Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) have called for clearer enforcement of the boundaries between optometric screening and medical diagnosis, citing concerns over patient safety and accountability.
The two groups said optometrists played an important role in vision correction, refraction and the dispensing of spectacles and contact lenses, but expressed concern over what they described as a growing blurring of the line between optometry and medical eye care.
“At present, optometrists are permitted to screen for eye conditions, not to diagnose them,” MSO president Professor Dr Liza Sharmini Ahmad Tajudin and MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said in a joint statement on Friday (Sept 11).
MSO and MMA claimed some optometry outlets were increasingly using artificial intelligence-assisted tools and medical devices to provide assessments that amounted to diagnosis, sometimes at additional cost to patients.
They also raised concern over some practices describing themselves as clinics and offering clinical services by “optometrist consultants”, saying consultation fees and practice settings were not regulated in the same way as medical services.
The groups said optometrists are regulated under the Optical Act 1991, while medical practitioners come under the Medical Act 1971 and must undergo compulsory housemanship before practising independently.
They said countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and parts of the United States allowed optometrists to diagnose certain eye conditions and, in some cases, prescribe therapeutic medication.
However, they said such expanded responsibilities were generally subject to additional structured training, supervised clinical practice and formal competency requirements beyond the basic optometry degree.
“Where countries have expanded the optometrist’s role, they did so only after building in additional mandatory training, supervised practice and a formal credentialing pathway,” the statement added.
MSO and MMA also flagged concerns over accountability in cases of missed or incorrect diagnoses, as well as potential conflicts of interest where eye assessments and the sale of optical products were carried out within the same retail business.
They said patients could also face additional costs if they paid for such assessments before ultimately having to seek separate medical consultation from a doctor or ophthalmologist.
The groups called on the Health Ministry and Malaysian Optical Council to reaffirm the distinction between screening and medical diagnosis, review the use of AI-based and other diagnostic-grade devices in optometry outlets, and strengthen clinical training and supervised practice requirements.
They also urged greater public awareness of the differences between optometrists and medical eye care providers.
The two groups stressed that the call was not intended as criticism of optometrists.
Instead, they said it was aimed at ensuring “clarity, accountability and patient safety” in the country’s eye care system.
