The Finnish Association of Vision and Eyecare (Näe ry) considers that the age limit of 8 years, applied to medications used in optometric examinations, is based on an annex rather than the actual provisions of the regulation and is therefore not legally binding. The age limit also conflicts with the amendment to the Professional Personnel Regulation that entered into force on August 1, 2025, which removed age restrictions on an optometrist’s authority. According to Näe ry, the medications listed in Annex 2 are safe and short-acting, and their use falls within an optometrist’s core expertise, including in the examination of children under 8 years of age. Optometrists’ education and continuing professional development provide sufficient skills for the safe use of these medications in children. Training includes examining children’s refractive errors and eye health, pharmacology, understanding the effects of medications, and ensuring safe examination conditions. An age limit does not improve patient safety. Instead, it restricts necessary examinations for children and weakens access to care. Näe ry proposes that the age limit be removed from the optometrist’s list of medications.
