TORONTO, ONTARIO—Clearly, the Essilor-owned online retailer, is under fire by two Canadian organizations that regulate eyewear dispensing in the province of Ontario.

The College of Opticians of Ontario and the College of Optometrists of Ontario announced Wednesday that they are seeking an injunction that would prohibit Clearly, which is owned by Essilor Group of Canada from dispensing prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses online to the Ontario public, without following Ontario legislation. The Colleges regulate the practice of opticianry and optometry in Ontario, respectively.

In a joint statement, the Colleges emphasized that dispensing prescription eyewear is a controlled act. “Dispensing includes the preparation, adaptation and delivery of prescription eyewear. It is illegal for anyone other than an optician, optometrist or physician to dispense prescription eyewear to an Ontario patient except under appropriate supervision or delegation,” according to the Colleges.

“Patient choice and convenience is important, but this can’t come at the expense of patient safety,” said Dr. Paula Garshowitz, registrar of the College of Optometrists of Ontario. “This action isn’t about stopping online dispensing. This is about ensuring that Ontarians have full protection under Ontario laws.”

Fazal Khan, registrar of the College of Opticians of Ontario, remarked, “At the end of the day, our respective Colleges have a duty to serve and protect the public interest. That means ensuring the highest standard of vision care for Ontario patients, regardless of where or how they purchase their eyewear.”

In response, Essilor Group in Canada issued a statement saying that it “respects the decision of the Colleges to seek the court’s opinion regarding the role of optical e-commerce in Ontario.

“As a global leader, Essilor has over 170 years of unparalleled commitment to supporting the highest level of product innovation, safety and consumer satisfaction. Essilor’s long term sustainable approach to business means that the Essilor Group is fully committed to complying with laws, regulations and requirements in all the countries where it operates.

“With the advent of technology and the consumer’s evolving needs, alternate channels are fast-emerging. It is of key importance for Essilor to continue to work hand-in-hand with its eyecare professionals, while also addressing the consumer's new buying preferences, in order to provide access to the best quality of eyecare for all Canadian consumers. Essilor in Canada will continue to strongly support the independent eyecare professional in their efforts to serve Canadians in both traditional and e-commerce channels,” the Essilor Group in Canada said.

Essilor acquired online retailer Coastal.com in April, 2014 and changed its name to Clearly a year later.