Focus Point admits mistake, offers IPO exit option

Finally, an official announcement from Focus Point (From Business Times).
So that means even after this fiasco, Focus point will only equipt 30 of its outlet with professionals that can dispense contact lens legally.

Makes you wonder about the other optical chains in Malaysia.

The below abstract can be found here



Focus Point admits mistake, offers IPO exit option


Focus Point Holdings Bhd has admitted that 38 of its stores have broken the law on contact lens prescription and it has offered investors the chance to get their money back.

The country's largest professional eyecare chain said 38 outlets were found to have dispensed contact lenses without the presence of a qualified optometrist or optician.

Although over-the-counter sales of disposable contact lenses is a common industry practice, this is against the Optical Act 1991. Focus Point said it has ceased doing so from yesterday, it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.

The group had to postpone its listing on the stock market at the eleventh hour on July 27 following an anonymous allegation about its business. One of the complaints is that there were instances when contact lenses were prescribed by unqualified staff.

"Prior to this cessation, as at December 31 last year, 38 of the group's 64 eye care centres were found to have been dispensing contact lenses over the counter without a qualified optometrist or optician," the company said.

There were instances where certain outlets dispensed contact lenses without the physical presence of these qualified personnel.

Focus Point said its remaining outlets were serviced by 13 optometrists and three opticians qualified to prescribe and dispense contact lenses. It currently has 144 outlets nationwide.

President and chief executive officer Datuk Liaw Choong Liang in a press statement issued later in the evening said the company has given its full cooperation to the regulators.

Focus Point said it has extended an exit option to investors who have subscribed for its shares under the public issue.

"Investors can exit, should they, for any reason wish to do so," the company said. Its new listing date is on August 23 2010.

Focus Point plans to have either an optometrist or optician qualified to prescribe and dispense contact lenses at each of its top 30 professional eye care centres

Contact Lens : Are optical outlet selling them legally in Malaysia?

I am encouraged to write this new post by a few of my friends as they have been reading about the Focus Point incident lately in the papers. (latest update can be read here)

The main question that was thrown to me was :

When I buy contact lenses in an optical outlet, how do I know the person selling me the contact lenses are legally allowed to do so (as in only registered pharmacist can dispense prescribed medication)?

Answer : I will explain the answer in 2 parts.

Firstly, in Malaysia, only 2 group of people are allowed to prescribe and dispense contact lenses to the public

1) Optometrist - This group of people holds a degree in Optometry and are fully equipped with expertise to examine your eye for any eye defects as well as dispense contact lens to you

2) Qualified Optician with "Pink Form" - This group of people holds a "Fellow of British Dispensing Optician" after finishing a year and a half course at Axismatic College after their SPM. On top of that they will also need to take a contact lens qualification exam certified by the Ministry of Health. Once qualified, they are given a pink form stating that they are qualified to dispense contact lenses. This "pink form" must be displayed prominently at the optical outlet.


So, how do we identify this 2 group of people when we enter an optical outlet?

The answer lies on the certification that is given out by the Malaysian Optic Council (MOC) that is the regulatory body of the optical industry.

Optometrist is certified with a green coloured form stating his name and qualification

Optician / Juru Optik is certified with a blue coloured form stating his name and qualification and IF he is qualified to dispence contact lenses, he will have another pink coloured certification stating that he is qualified to dispense contact lenses.

The regulatory body in Malaysia (MOC) has also in the past few years issued photo certification to be prominently displayed in optical outlet. This yellow coloured certification contains the photo of the Optometrist / Optician (Juru Optik) that is working in the outlet as well as his name and also what services that can be provided. Optometrist and Optician (Juru Optik) with pink form will have 2 sections, the first stating that he is allowed to prescribed and dispense opthalmic lenses (prescription spectacle) and 2nd section stating that he/she are allowed to prescribe and dispense contact lenses. If an Optician (Juru Optik) do not have a pink form, his photo certificate will only have one column stating he can prescribe and dispense ophthalmic lenses and frames ONLY.

To summarize, ALL Optometrist can dispense contact lenses BUT only Optician with a pink form are allowed to dispense contact lenses.

And how do we confirm that the person is either of the above?

Ask or look for the photo certification or at the least see if the outlet contain a green or a pink cert with the name of the person that is serving you.


Hope this clears the air.

If you want to know more about Optometrist and Optician, you can read my previous blog here