Optometry in Singapore

Optometry is a health care profession that provides comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes the diagnosis and management of eye diseases. The practice of optometry in Singapore is largely unregulated.

History
In the years before the 1990s, the profession of optometry was not well defined. Although optometrists who have graduated from universities mainly in the United Kingdom and Australia have started their practices in Singapore. There was no formal optometric program that was recognised by the Education Ministry. Most optometrists received their formal education overseas.

Although there were few optometrists in 1980s, there were a lot of practicing opticians. Most of these opticians do not have formal training, and learned their skills of vision checking and glasses dispensing through on the job training. They have been the main primary eye care providers in Singapore since the birth of the state.

In early 1990s, a course for the practice of contact lens was set up at Singapore Polytechnic. This was due to the overwhelming contact lens related eye complications that has risen, during the surge of popularity of contact lenses then. This is a 2 year part time course, which allow the opticians to upgrade their skills and knowledge in contact lens fitting. The course was discontinued in 1995.

The Singapore Polytechnic began to take in candidates who were to study the new Diploma in Optometry course in 1993. This was the first official optometry program in Singapore. The first batch of optometrists graduated from this three year course in 1996. Since then, Singapore Polytechnic has graduated more than 450 optometrists.

Education
In Singapore, optometrists undergo a 3 year Diploma in Optometry program. Graduates of this program may call themselves optometrists, and are able to practice optometry in Singapore.

The Singapore Polytechnic has a three year Diploma in Optometry program. The average yearly intake for this course is about 40 candidates. The course intake requirements is 5 GCE 'O' Levels with L1R4 aggregates of between 10 to 14, variable each year. International students with the equivalent of the local GCE 'O' Levels may also apply to study for this course. This three year course provides optometry students with the relevant skills and knowledge of vision testing, diagnosis and management of eye disorders and diseases, fitting and dispensing of glasses and contact lenses, as well as the business aspect of optometry.
 * Singapore Polytechnic - Diploma in Optometry

In 2002, the Singapore Optometric Association ties up with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) to provide a 3 year part time course. This course awards the Bachelor of Science in Optometry / Master of Science in Clinical Optometry dual degree. This course is only open to graduates of Singapore Polytechnic with the Diploma in Optometry, and graduates of overseas institution with Bachelor degrees in Optometry. This course is held in Singapore, and is fully taught by the faculty from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. The professors and lecturers from PCO fly down each month, to provide intensive lectures on a particular topic for a stretch of days. Students are also required to go to PCO twice for two weeks each, to attend clinical training, lectures, as well as research and case presentations.
 * Singapore Optometric Association
 * Pennsylvania College of Optometry - Center for International Studies

In 2005, Singapore Polytechnic started the Advance Diploma in Optometry program. This is a part time course, whereby graduates of the Diploma in Optometry program 2 years of learning to upgrade their knowledge and skills in optometry. This course teaches advance diagnostic techniques and ocular diseases. The course is partly taught by the faculty in Singapore Polytechnic's Optometry faculty, and partly by the opthalmologists from Singapore National Eye Centre. While this is a good program, many graduates feel that it is vastly inferior to the BSc/MSc program offered in conjunction with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
 * Singapore Polytechnic - Advance Diploma in Optometry

Legislation
The Contact Lens Practitioner's Act was enacted in 1995. This was the first ever optometry related legislation in Singapore. This Act was enacted in response to the surge of contact lens related complications from the rising popularity of wearing contact lenses then. After the Act was enacted, only registered Contact Lens Practitioners can practice contact lens. Qualified optometrists were also able to register to practice contact lens in Singapore. This is a list of approved qualifications that are accepted by the Contact Lens Board in Singapore.

There is currently no legislation for optometry in Singapore. All optometrists register under the Contact Lens Practitioners Board, and practice as contact lens practitioners. However, they can call themselves optometrists. The profession of optometry, is not protected by law. There is no legislation that stops contact lens practitioners (who are not optometrists) or even opticians from calling themselves optometrists. Currently, anyone can practice primary eye care, even if the person is not adequately trained or academically qualified. Due to the Contact Lens Practitioners Act, most if not all practices hire an optometrist so that they can sell contact lenses. Therefore, most optical/optometric practice will at least for a registered contact lens practitioner or an optometrist.

The Ministry of Health has since reviewed the state of Optometry and Opticianry in Singapore, and are in negotiations with the professional bodies and teaching institutions of optometry for plans to legislate Optometry and Opticianry. It has been slated that in the beginning of 2007, the Optometry and Opticianry Board (OOB) will be formed, and all optometrists and opticians will have to register in order to practice their profession in the future. The Optometry and Opticianry Act will take effect in July 2007, where Optometrists and Opticians will become protected professions. The role of Optometrists and Opticians will then be defined.