This section modifies existing section 18.53.010. Here is the modified chapter for context.
1.
a. **The practice of optometry is defined as the evaluation of ocular health and refractive state, diagnosis, and treatment of the eye and its appendages to correct and relieve ocular abnormalities in any authorized manner, including, but not limited to:**
i. **Prescribing and adapting lenses, contact lenses, spectacle eyeglasses, prisms, other ocular devices, and of administration of pharmaceutical agents;**
ii. **The use of oral, topical, and other medications to treat and relieve disease or abnormalities of the ocular tissues and ocular adnexa;**
iii. **The prescription and provision of visual therapy, ocular exercises, visual rehabilitation therapy, subnormal vision therapy, orthoptics, and the adaptation of prosthetic eyes;**
iv. **Ordering necessary diagnostic lab or imaging tests and the dispensing of samples to initiate treatment;**
v. **Performing nonpenetrating ocular foreign body removal or debridement of tissue by any means, epilation of misaligned eyelashes, placement of punctal or lacrimal plugs, dilation and irrigation of the lacrimal system, placement of biologic membranes, orthokeratology, prescription and fitting of contact lenses with the purpose of altering refractive error, or other similar procedures;**
vi. **The use of diagnostic or therapeutic instruments utilizing laser, ultrasound, or other technology in the performance of primary eye care; and**
vii. **Other ophthalmic surgery procedures, except those listed in (c) of this subsection, that are within the scope of the licensee's education and training taught by an accredited school of optometry and authorized by regulations adopted by the board of optometry which demonstrate the licensee's proficiency in performing the procedure.**
b. **"Ophthalmic surgery procedures" means a procedure upon the human eye in which in vivo human tissue is injected, cut, burned, frozen, sutured, vaporized, coagulated, or photodisrupted by the use of surgical instrumentation such as, but not limited to, a scalpel, cryoprobe, laser, electric cautery, or ionizing radiation.**
c. **The practice of optometry does not include:**
i. **Retinal laser procedures, laser-assisted in situ keratomileus, photorefractive keratectomy, laser epithelial keratomileusis, or any forms of refractive surgery;**
ii. **Penetrating keratoplasty, corneal transplant, or lamellar keratoplasty;**
iii. **The administration of general anesthesia;**
iv. **Surgery performed with general anesthesia;**
v. **Laser or nonlaser injection into the vitreous chamber of the eye to treat any macular or retinal disease;**
vi. **Surgery related to the removal of the eye from a living human being;**
vii. **Surgery requiring a full thickness incision or excision of the cornea or sclera other than paracentesis in an emergency situation requiring immediate reduction of the pressure inside of the eye;**
viii. **Surgery requiring incision of the iris and ciliary body, including iris diathermy or cryotherapy;**
ix. **Surgery requiring incision of the vitreous or retina;**
x. **Surgical extraction of the crystalline lens;**
xi. **Surgical intraocular implants;**
xii. **Incisional or excisional surgery of the extraocular muscles;**
xiii. **Surgery of the eyelid for malignancies or for incisional cosmetic or mechanical repair of blepharochalasis, ptosis, or tarsorrhaphy;**
xiv. **Surgery of the bony orbit, including orbital implants;**
xv. **Incisional or excisional surgery of the lacrimal system other than lacrimal probing or related procedures;**
xvi. **Surgery requiring full thickness conjunctivoplasty with graft or flap;**
xvii. **Any surgical procedure that does not provide for the correction and relief of ocular abnormalities;**
xviii. **Incision into the eyeball;**
xix. **Retrobulbar or intraorbital injection; or**
xx. **Pterygium surgery**.
An optometrist shall not administer drugs, prescribe drugs, or perform laser or nonlaser surgical procedures until he or she is authorized, licensed, or certified by the board. Any advanced procedure licensed optometrist authorized to practice under this chapter shall meet the educational and competence criteria set forth by the board in order to perform expanded therapeutic procedures.
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Those persons using topical and oral drugs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the practice of optometry shall have didactic and clinical instruction in general and ocular pharmacology as applied to optometry, as established by the board, and certification from an institution of higher learning, accredited by those agencies recognized by the United States office of education or the council on postsecondary accreditation to qualify for certification by the optometry board of Washington to use drugs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Those persons administering injection and advanced procedures for treatment in the practice of optometry must be certified under (a) of this subsection, and must have additional didactic and supervised clinical instruction**,** as established by the board, and certification from an institution of higher learning, accredited by those agencies recognized by the United States office of education or the council on postsecondary accreditation to qualify for certification by the optometry board to administer injections and advanced procedures.
The board shall designate what postgraduate courses may be accepted for certification to provide advanced ophthalmic surgical procedures. If a course is offered by an institution of higher education accredited by those agencies recognized by the United States office of education or the council on postsecondary accreditation to qualify for certification by the board to perform advanced procedures, this course should contain continuing education including didactic and practical training or an equivalent course or exam may be ruled as acceptable.
d.
Such course or courses shall be the fiscal responsibility of the participating and attending optometrist. The board shall determine a date in which all persons licensed under this chapter must be certified under (a) and (b) of this subsection.
The board shall establish a list of topical drugs for diagnostic and treatment purposes limited to the practice of optometry, and no person licensed pursuant to this chapter shall prescribe, dispense, purchase, possess, or administer drugs except as authorized and to the extent permitted by the board.
The board must establish a list of oral Schedule III through V controlled substances and any oral legend drugs, with the approval of and after consultation with the pharmacy quality assurance commission. The board may include Schedule II hydrocodone combination products consistent with subsection (7) of this section. No person licensed under this chapter may use, prescribe, dispense, purchase, possess, or administer these drugs except as authorized and to the extent permitted by the board.
The board, with the approval of and in consultation with the pharmacy quality assurance commission, must establish, by rule, specific guidelines for the prescription and administration of drugs by optometrists, so that licensed optometrists and persons filling their prescriptions have a clear understanding of which drugs and which dosages or forms are included in the authority granted by this section.
An optometrist may not
prescribe, dispense, or administer a controlled substance for more than seven days in treating a particular patient for a single trauma, episode, or condition or for pain associated with or related to the trauma, episode, or condition
.
c. If treatment exceeding the limitation in (b) of this subsection is indicated, the patient must be referred to a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW.
d. The prescription or administration of drugs as authorized in this section is specifically limited to those drugs appropriate to treatment of diseases or conditions of the human eye and the adnexa that are within the scope of practice of optometry. The prescription or administration of drugs for any other purpose is not authorized by this section.
The board shall develop a means of identification and verification of optometrists certified to use therapeutic drugs for the purpose of issuing prescriptions as authorized by this section.
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize the use, prescription, dispensing, purchase, possession, or administration of any Schedule I or II controlled substance, except Schedule II hydrocodone combination products. The provisions of this subsection must be strictly construed.
In addition to therapeutic intralesional and subconjunctival injections to the ocular tissues and adnexa, epinephrine may be administered by injection for the treatment of anaphylactic shock.
In a public health emergency, the state health officer may authorize therapeutically licensed optometrists to administer inoculations for systemic health reasons.
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Any optometrist authorized by the board shall be permitted to purchase diagnostic pharmaceutical agents for use in the practice of optometry. Any optometrist authorized by the board shall be permitted to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry. Optometrists authorized by the board to purchase pharmaceutical agents shall obtain them from licensed wholesalers or pharmacists, using prescriptions or chart orders placed in the same or similar manner as any physician or other practitioner so authorized. Purchases shall be limited to those pharmaceutical agents specified in this section, based upon the authority conferred upon the optometrist by the board consistent with the educational qualifications of the optometrist as established in this section.
**Diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents are any prescription or nonprescription drug delivered via any route of administration used or prescribed for the diagnosis, treatment, or mitigation of abnormal conditions and pathology of the human eye and its adnexa.**Diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents do not include Schedule I and Schedule II drugs, except for hydrocodone combination products.
This section modifies existing section 18.54.060. Here is the modified chapter for context.
A majority of members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the board.
This section modifies existing section 18.54.050. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The board must meet at least once yearly or more frequently upon call of the board's officers or the secretary of health at such times and places as the board's officers or the secretary of health may designate by giving three days' notice or as otherwise required by RCW 42.30.075. A full record of the board's proceedings shall be kept in the office of the board and shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times.
This section modifies existing section 18.54.070. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The board has the following powers and duties:
To develop and administer, or approve, or both, a licensure examination. The board may approve an examination prepared or administered by a private testing agency or association of licensing authorities.
The board shall adopt rules and regulations to promote safety, protection and the welfare of the public, to carry out the purposes of this chapter, to aid the board in the performance of its powers and duties, and to govern the practice of optometry. The administrative regulations shall include the classification and licensure of optometrists by examination or credentials, retirement of a license, and reinstatement of a license.
The board shall have the sole authority to determine what constitutes the practice of optometry within the confines of this chapter and chapter 18.53 RCW.
The board shall keep a register containing the name, address, license number, email, and phone number of every person licensed to practice optometry in this state to the best of their ability.