An in-depth investigation published by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on 16 July 2026 raised concerns about the potential influence of retail targets on clinical optometry.
Some optometrists employed by three large corporate chains reportedly claimed they were expected to prioritise examinations considered more likely to result in sales of spectacles or contact lenses. Practitioners also alleged that performance measures, including average patient spend and lens upgrades could influence their future working hours. The article further suggested that some staff training encouraged unnecessary purchases. The companies involved rejected these allegations.
This highlights the potential conflict between independent clinical judgement and commercial sales expectations, a concern explored in our previous article, “Patients Before Profits.” It is encouraging that members of the optometric profession were prepared to speak out in support of placing patient welfare ahead of commercial pressures.
A second article, published on 23 August 2026, described a Coffs Harbour patient who was prescribed bifocal spectacles following an examination at a retail optometry outlet. After subsequently being involved in a motor vehicle accident, she questioned whether blurred vision with the spectacles may have contributed, although several possible causes were acknowledged.
The patient later consulted another optometrist and was reportedly diagnosed with advanced cataracts requiring surgery. Professor Konrad Pesudovs from University NSW commented that cataracts should not ordinarily be misdiagnosed.
This highlights the benefit of being an independent optometry practice. We control the time allocated to each examination based on patient’s needs and make clinical decisions without corporate sales targets. This allows us to place our patients’ welfare at the centre of everything we do. We can also recommend frames and lenses from a broad range of suppliers, selecting solutions according to each patient’s individual visual needs, not corporate restrictions.
