HB 103 Summary

• Amends optometry regulations to authorize the board to adopt standards governing prescription and use of pharmaceutical agents for treating eye disease.

• Allows optometrists to prescribe and use pharmaceutical agents, including controlled substances, if consistent with board-adopted standards and within their scope of practice.

• Requires optometrists performing ophthalmic surgery to have education and training from an accredited optometry school and authorization from board regulations; defines ophthalmic surgery as invasive procedures affecting eye tissue or refractive error.

• Removes specific continuing education hour requirements (8 hours for pharmaceutical agents, 7 hours for injectable agents) and replaces them with board-regulated requirements to ensure public protection.

• Establishes that optometrists may only perform services within their education, training, and experience as defined by board regulations; Section 2 takes effect July 17, 2017.