HB197 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code to expand the scope of optometry practice to include prescribing and administering narcotic analgesics (Schedule III-V) and steroid pharmaceutical agents for eye and adjacent structure treatment.

• Prohibits optometrists from prescribing Schedule I and II narcotics and limits other Schedule III agents to prescriptions not exceeding 96 hours, except hydrocodone which is prohibited.

• Authorizes optometrists to perform specific procedures including injections (excluding posterior chamber), chalazion removal, skin lesion biopsy, laser capsulotomy, laser trabeculoplasty, laser peripheral iridotomy, and corneal crosslinking.

• Explicitly prohibits optometrists from performing eyeball injections, cataract surgery, muscle surgery, retinal surgery, radial keratotomy, refractive laser surgery, cryosurgery, or invasive ophthalmic surgery requiring general anesthesia.

• Establishes the Alabama Board of Optometry as the sole authority to determine what constitutes optometry practice and grants it exclusive jurisdiction to regulate the profession, with power to issue advisory opinions and declaratory rulings; clarifies board status as a certifying board under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act with specified limitations.