ALBANY, N.Y.—Blink, the on-demand, mobile refraction service that launched in New York City this spring, is encountering pushback from state and national optometric associations.

In a complaint filed July 7 with the New York State Education Department and Office of Professional Discipline, The New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) claims that the business model behind Blink is “fundamentally inconsistent with New York State law and regulation and may pose a significant risk to the health of New Yorkers.” NYSOA filed the complaint following a June 19 presentation by Blink before the New York State Board of Optometry.

Developed by EyeNetra, a Somerville, Mass.-based startup specializing in smartphone-powered refraction technology, Blink allows consumers to go online to schedule a refraction with a trained technician who comes to their location. The technicians, which Blink calls “Visioneers,” take a health history and operate Blink’s proprietary optical measurement devices to conduct a vision test. Test results are then shared with a professional within Blink’s network of licensed optometrists for review, recommendations and prescriptions, if appropriate.

In its complaint, NYSOA objects to Blink’s use of unlicensed visioneers to perform refractions, and claims that the Blink employees may be violating the law by exceeding the scope of practice. The complaint also claims that licensed optometrists working with Blink may violate New York state rules by delegating “patient evaluation and data-gathering tasks to the visioneers” while failing to supervise them appropriately. NYSOA also objects to what it claims is illegal fee-splitting between an unlicensed referral service and a licensed practitioner.

"We are concerned, regardless of whatever disclaimers Blink might make, that patients who receive mobile refractions from unsupervised and unlicensed 'visioneers' will assume that they have received a comprehensive eye health examination," NYSOA president Michele Lagana, OD, said in a statement.

NYSOA is asking the Department and Office of Professional Discipline to review Blink’s operations and policies and stop its operations in New York State if Blink is found to be violating state law and regulations.

Blink founder David Schafran told VMail, “We are aware of the complaint. However, we are not yet prepared to comment, given the formal nature of the complaint and the request by the NYSOA for an investigation.”

The American Optometric Association (AOA) is supporting NYSOA position, stating that there is no substitute for an in-person, comprehensive eye exam.

“AOA is not opposed to cutting-edge technology. But AOA is opposed to bad patient care," AOA president Steven A. Loomis, OD, said in a statement. “When technology is abused in a manner that undermines the critical doctor-patient relationship, AOA will speak out and act to insure patients receive the care they deserve.”