{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sight-testing-examination-and-prescription-no-2-regulations-1989/regulation-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sight-testing-examination-and-prescription-no-2-regulations-1989/regulation-3.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1989/1230",
  "legislation_title": "The Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No. 2) Regulations 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sight-testing-examination-and-prescription-no-2-regulations-1989",
  "path": "regulation/3",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Examination",
  "text": "(1) Subject to the exceptions specified in paragraphs (2) and (3), when a doctor or optometrist tests the sight of another person, it shall be his duty–\n(a) to perform, for the purpose of detecting signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye or elsewhere–\n(i) an examination of the external surface of the eye and its immediate vicinity,\n(ii) an intra-ocular examination, either by means of an ophthalmoscope or by such other means as the doctor or optometrist considers appropriate,\n(iii) such additional examinations as appear to the doctor or optometrist to be clinically necessary; and\n(b) immediately following the test to give to the patient a written statement–\n(i) that he has carried out the examinations required by sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, and\n(ii) that he is or (as the case may be) is not referring the patient to a doctor, and\n(iii) if he is referring the patient to a doctor, setting out the reason for the referral..\n(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply where the testing of sight is carried out by a doctor at a hospital or clinic in the course of diagnosing or treating injury or disease of the eye.\n(3) In England, the provisions of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) do not apply where the doctor or optometrist refers the patient to an ophthalmic hospital, in accordance with regulation 13(3) of the General Ophthalmic Contracts Regulations 2008.\n(3) In Scotland, the provisions of paragraphs (1)(b)(ii) do not apply where the doctor or optometrist refers the patient to an ophthalmic hospital, in accordance with paragraph 14(4) of Schedule 1 to the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 3(1) substituted (S.) (1.4.2006) by The Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/134), regs. 1(1), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in reg. 3(1) substituted (E.) (1.4.2005) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services Supplementary List) and (General Ophthalmic Services Amendment and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/480), regs. 1(1), 42(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in Regulation substituted (30.6.2005 as notified in the London Gazette dated 3.6.2005) by The Opticians Act 1989 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/848), Sch. 1 para. 22(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Reg. 3(1)(b)(iii) and word added (30.6.2005 as notified in the London Gazette dated 3.6.2005) by The Opticians Act 1989 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/848), Sch. 1 para. 22(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Reg. 3(3) added (E.) (1.4.2005) by The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services Supplementary List) and (General Ophthalmic Services Amendment and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/480), regs. 1(1), 42(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in reg. 3(3) substituted (E.) (1.8.2008) by The Primary Ophthalmic Services Amendment, Transitional and Consequential Provisions Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1700), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Reg. 3(3) inserted (S.) (1.4.2006) by The Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/134), regs. 1(1), 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 3 in force at 31.7.1989, see reg. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1230/regulation/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T15:40:33.399590+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}