New regulation on contact lenses

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Registered private optometrists now need to have the Photo Name Certificate before they can prescribe contact lenses.
The Health Ministry has set this condition in view of the rising cases of eye complications associated with contact lens usage.
Its director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican, who launched the certificate yesterday, said that of late there had been more cases of fungal keratitis corneal infection related to contact lens solutions.
The introduction of the PNC, which is issued free of charge, is also to curb bogus and illegal optometry practitioners, he said.
Dr Ismail said of the 2,661 registered optometrists, only 2,056 had renewed their Annual Practising Certificate.
“Those without the APC will not be penalised when they come forward to register for the PNC,” he said.
“But if they deal with contact lenses without having the PNC, then they will be held for contravening regulations.”
The laminated PNC has to be displayed on the wall of the optometrist’s premises and it will feature details on the optometrist’s scope of practice.
Dr Ismail said the suspension of Bausch&Lomb’s ReNu multi-purpose contact lens solution was still on indefinitely.