The Ohan Karagozian Investigation

The Department of Public Health is responsible for investigating complaints regarding the care and services provided by healthcare professionals. On April 1, 2013, the state of Connecticut’s Department of Public Health received several complaints from the petitioner, Ohan Karagozian, concerning Sears Optical (Luxottica Retail). Presented here is the full documented investigative report of the Ohan Karagozian investigation.

The Complaint

Ohan Karagozian worked as a licensed optician at Sears Optical in Waterford, CT, from September 24, 2012, until February 2, 2013. In his petition, Karagozian made the following allegations:

• Karagozian was imposed to perform optometric assistant duties.
• The optometrist, Dr. Stephen Fedus, allowed the use of contact lens equipment in violation of the Declaratory Ruling by the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Optometrists, dated May 1, 2002.
• Sears Optical of Waterford operated without a valid Optical Selling permit.
• Sears Optical of Waterford submitted a fraudulent Optical Selling Permit Application.

Because Sears Optical at Waterford had no staff, the optometrist relied on licensed opticians to fill in as his staff. As an employee of Sears Optical, Karagozian was asked to perform optometric assistant duties, such as answering calls, operating the cash register, and receiving patients.

Additionally, when representatives for Sears Optical of Waterford submitted an application for an Optical Selling permit to the Department of Health, they claimed that the Optical Shop had contact lens equipment. However, Karagozian claimed that there was no contact lens equipment on the premises during the time of his employment. In his petition, Karagozian asked that the Optical Selling permit for Sears Optical of Waterford be invalidated from the date of issuance.

The Ruling

After the investigation into Karagozian’s allegations, the Department of Public Health found that Sears Optical was not adhering to the conditions set by the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Optometrists. During the site inspection, it was revealed that Sears Optical of Waterford did not have contact lens equipment onsite. Therefore, Sears Optical of Waterford was operating without a valid Optical Selling permit, from January 2013 to August 2013.

Additionally, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. signed a  Cease and Desist Consent Order , dated February 6, 2006. They agreed that licensed opticians and registered apprentice opticians will not be required to perform optometric assistant duties.

For more information concerning the Ohan Karagozian investigation, read the full documented report.