Policies & Guidelines

FORAC has approved four policy documents for optometrists in Canada. These documents can be downloaded here:

FORAC-FAROC Policy on Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility, and Anti-racism in Optometric Practice

FORAC-FAROC Position Statement on Dispensing Eyewear

FORAC-FAROC Position Statement on Refractions, Vision and Eye Health Examinations

FORAC-FAROC Position Statement on Dispensing Eyewear

Purpose: To protect the public from the risk of harm that is present when the public purchases eyewear, including from online sources.

FORAC-FAROC’s Position:

All optical prescriptions must have an expiry date that is clinically justified and only prescriptions that have not expired may be filled.
Measurements for eyewear should be performed by a regulated eye care professional.
All eyewear should be measured and verified for accuracy of the optical device (eyeglasses, contact lenses…) prior to dispensing by a regulated eye care professional. In addition, they should be fitted to the patient by a regulated eye care professional upon delivery.

What is an Interpupillary Distance (PD) Measurement?

An interpupillary distance (PD) measurement is a measurement of the distance between the centers of your two eyes. This measurement is used to properly align the center of your eyeglass lenses with the center of your eyes. If the centers of your eyeglass lenses are not aligned properly, then you may experience eyestrain, headaches, distorted vision, double vision, blurred vision and/or an inability to wear your eyeglasses.

A PD measurement is part of the dispensing service, not part of the eye examination. Other dispensing services include selection of an appropriate frame, recommendation of an appropriate lens type (and coatings), adjustment of the frame, PD measurement and proper placement of the bifocal or multifocal (if appropriate). It is the responsibility of the person/company providing the dispensing service to accurately measure your PD.