Optometry Bill Eyes Consumer Protection

A private member's bill has been introduced in Parliament to establish central optical devices quality control and vision care regulation. MP Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade introduced the bill, aiming to protect consumers allegedly left in a "no-man's land" between lens manufacturing and retail delivery.

The bill addresses a legislative gap where professional practice is regulated by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, and devices are regulated at the factory level by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. However, there is a noted absence of legislative oversight at the retail point-of-sale.

This regulatory void allows for testing clinics and retail shops to operate without technical accountability, potentially leading to medical negligence. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure a uniform national regulatory mechanism for optometric services, covering eye testing, prescription accuracy, lens quality, and fitting practices.

The Union Health Ministry acknowledged that refractive errors affect a significant portion of the population, with RAAB 2019 data showing impact on 13.4% of those over 50 and 29.6% below 50. The Ministry stated that optometry is regulated under the NCAHP Act, with a curriculum released on April 24, 2025, and that spectacles and contact lenses are regulated as medical devices under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017.

However, the bill's proponents argue that uncorrected refractive errors represent a substantial economic burden and contribute to road accidents. They also express concern over the influx of low-grade, non-UV protected lenses and emphasize the medical necessity of quality "blue-cut" and "anti-reflective" coatings due to increased screen time.