Eye care chains are treating optometrists more like retail workers than health professionals, with sales targets and pressure to cut consultation times, a major union says.
Specsavers, OPSM, Bupa Optical and others are accused of prioritising glasses sales above patient care, leaving serious health conditions potentially undetected.
A Health Services Union-led study, released on Thursday, suggests the median consultation time with an optometrist has fallen from 45 minutes to 30 minutes since 2006.
