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Aipedia: Optometrists and opticians
The GOC has no AI-specific rule, but its Standards of Practice already require optometrists and dispensing opticians to apply professional judgement to data from digital technologies. The College of Optometrists is adding detail through its interim position and a new AI section in its draft 2026 guidance.
Part of: AI in Optometrists and opticians
In short
The GOC's Standards of Practice, effective 1 January 2025, include two digital duties: keep aware of developments including digital technologies (5.3) and apply professional judgement when using data generated by digital technologies (7.8). The College of Optometrists published an interim sector position on 9 June 2025 saying AI is there to support clinicians, not replace them. Its draft fifth edition of the Guidance for Professional Practice, consulted on until 3 August 2026 and due in winter 2026, adds a section on AI and new technologies. The GOC also signed joint regulator statements on AI in February and September 2026.
The GOC is the statutory UK regulator of optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical students and optical businesses. It has not published an AI-specific standard or statement on its own account, and its annual report for 2024/25 contains no reference to AI. Its strategic objective for 2025 to 2030 is "supporting responsible innovation and protecting the public".
The absence of an AI rule is not a gap. The Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, which took effect on 1 January 2025, were updated with digital technology in mind. The GOC's launch note listed digital technology and the confidentiality of patient images shared online among the changes. Two standards address technology directly:
Other standards apply to AI use just as they apply to any other part of practice: valid consent and effective communication (2 and 3), working within scope (6.1), clear and contemporaneous records (8.1), appropriate supervision with clinical responsibility retained (9), adequate indemnity (12.2), confidentiality and secure records (14.1 and 14.7) and candour (19.1). These are the standards every registrant is expected to meet, whatever tools they use.
The College is the professional, scientific and examining body for optometry and publishes the Guidance for Professional Practice. Its AI work has two strands.
The interim position on the use of AI in eye care is a shared UK sector position supported by ABDO, AOP, FODO, LOCSU, Optometry Northern Ireland, Optometry Scotland and Optometry Wales. It states that AI is "there to support clinicians, not replace them" and emphasises patient safety, data protection, ethical use and workforce training. It covers principles, regulatory considerations and practical guidance for clinical and administrative use. Optician Online reported that it recommends clinical guidance on procuring AI tools and on responsible use of general-purpose large language models. A College-led AI Expert Advisory Group is working on eight areas, including clinical accountability and regulatory compliance. A fuller policy position was promised for later in 2025.
The College consulted on a revised edition over six weeks to 3 August 2026 and plans to publish it in winter 2026. It adds a section on "artificial intelligence and new technologies" setting expectations on clinical accountability, data governance, transparency with patients and AI literacy. It also proposes a professional duty of candour for all registrants, sections on expanding scope of practice and on culture and governance, and updates on myopia management. Eyewire reported that the AI section will address who is accountable for clinical decisions when AI tools are used. As at 30 October 2026 the final text has not been published.
In February 2026 the GOC joined the GPhC, GOsC, GCC, HCPC and RCVS in a joint statement on AI in health and care professional education. On 17 September 2026 it was among the ten PSA-overseen regulators that signed the Joint Statement of Intent on AI, committing to develop high-level UK-wide principles on how health and care professionals use AI. No timetable has been given. The PSA oversees the GOC, and the MHRA regulates AI medical devices, so the regulatory status of a tool itself is an MHRA matter rather than a GOC one.
| Publication | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| GOC Standards of Practice (5.3, 7.8 and others) | Effective 1 Jan 2025 | Binding standards |
| College interim position on AI in eye care | 9 Jun 2025 | Sector position |
| Joint statement on AI in education | Feb 2026 | Joint regulator statement |
| College Guidance for Professional Practice, 5th edition | Consultation to 3 Aug 2026 | Draft; final due winter 2026 |
| Joint Statement of Intent on AI | 17 Sep 2026 | Commitment to future principles |
For now, compliance means applying the existing standards to each tool: understand what it does, check its output against your own assessment, record your reasoning, protect the images and data, and tell patients. Expect the College's final guidance to make transparency and AI literacy explicit expectations.
Standard 12.2 requires adequate indemnity, continuous cover and run-off, but neither the GOC nor the College has published anything on how AI affects indemnity. Because Standard 7.8 keeps judgement with the registrant, claims involving AI are usually framed as claims about that judgement, and cover commonly responds on that basis, subject to the policy wording. See does optical indemnity cover AI errors?, telling patients you use AI, AI and supervising trainees, AI OCT scan analysis, our optometrist PI guide and the optical AI hub.
No AI-specific standard or statement has been published by the GOC on its own account. Its Standards of Practice, effective 1 January 2025, include Standard 5.3 on keeping aware of digital technologies and Standard 7.8 on applying professional judgement to data they generate.
The College's interim position and its Guidance for Professional Practice are professional guidance rather than GOC standards. They describe expected practice, and following them can help show you met the GOC standards. The AI section of the fifth edition is due in final form in winter 2026.
The consultation draft sets expectations on clinical accountability, data governance, transparency with patients and AI literacy. It was reported to address who is accountable for clinical decisions when AI tools are used. The final wording may change after consultation.
No. The GOC regulates registrants and optical businesses. AI medical devices are regulated by the MHRA. The GOC standards govern how you use a tool, including the judgement you apply to its output.
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