AN OPTICIAN failed to carry out adequate sight tests on elderly people in Melksham and Swindon, a disciplinary inquiry heard.

Philip Leeb du Toit, of Bryn-y-Gwenn, Abergavenny, is accused of rushing through eye tests on patients at Wemyss Lodge, Ermin Street, Swindon, on October 10, 2000, and at Malvern House in Melksham on the same day.

He is also accused of a similar failure at the Firs Residential Home in Sedgeley, West Midlands, on June 28, 2000.

Bradley Albuery, for the General Optical Council, told its disciplinary committee in London: "Mr Leeb du Toit failed to carry out adequate sight tests on patients."

Mr Leeb du Toit denied the allegations but said he did see 33 patients at the Firs and 36 patients at the other two nursing homes.

Mr Albuery said it would have been almost impossible for Mr Leeb du Toit to carry out adequate sight tests on that number of patients in such a limited time, as nursing homes only allow opticians to visit between about 10am and 5pm, with a break for lunch.

An expert witness, practising optometrist Geoffrey Roberson, who has regularly worked in nursing homes, told the committee an adequate eye examination required an interview with the patient and an assessment of their current spectacle prescription, followed by an eye test.

He also said external and internal examinations of the eyes should be carried out, followed by discussion with the patient about their vision.

He added: "I don't think this is really the gold standard. I think this is the routine standard.

"I think it would be difficult to do a reasonable eye examination on a patient in less than 20 minutes that is the minimum."

Mr Roberson calculated that Mr Leeb du Toit would have spent just eight minutes on average with each patient and explained: "I find it very difficult to believe that it would be possible within that time frame to conduct an adequate examination."

Mr Roberson also explained that some patients suffering from cataracts and possibly glaucoma were not referred, and added: "What concerned me was that there seemed to be no follow up of residents."

Mr Leeb du Toit, who works as a domiciliary optometrist, claims he worked longer hours at the nursing home and had an assistant.

He told the committee: "Seeing 33 patients at the Firs was not a normal day. When we had a large day planned we would always try to start early. We started at about 9.30am and finished at about 5.30pm.

"We had a 20 minute break. We started at Wemyss Lodge at about 9.30am, finishing at about 2.30pm, we again had a lunch break of about 20 minutes. We arrived at Malvern House at about 3.10pm and finished fairly late.

"Residents were having dinner around us. It was about 6.30 or 6.45pm. I believe I did carry out an adequate eye examination."

Mr Leeb du Toit is accused of serious professional misconduct.

The hearing continues.