154.1 - BOARD DEFINED -- OPTOMETRY -- DIAGNOSTICALLY CERTIFIED LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS -- THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRISTS. - Iowa Statutes

154.1 BOARD DEFINED -- OPTOMETRY -- DIAGNOSTICALLY CERTIFIED LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS -- THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRISTS. 1. As used in this chapter, "board" means the board of optometry created under chapter 147. 2. For the purpose of this subtitle, the following classes of persons shall be deemed to be engaged in the practice of optometry: a. Persons employing any means other than the use of drugs, medicine, or surgery for the measurement of the visual power and visual efficiency of the human eye; persons engaged in the prescribing and adapting of lenses, prisms, and contact lenses; and persons engaged in the using or employing of visual training or ocular exercise for the aid, relief, or correction of vision. b. Persons who allow the public to use any mechanical device for a purpose described in paragraph "a". c. Persons who publicly profess to be optometrists and to assume the duties incident to the profession. 3. Diagnostically certified licensed optometrists may employ cycloplegics, mydriatics, and topical anesthetics as diagnostic agents topically applied to determine the condition of the human eye for proper optometric practice or referral for treatment to a person licensed under chapter 148. A diagnostically certified licensed optometrist is an optometrist who is licensed to practice optometry in this state and who is certified by the board to use diagnostic agents. 4. Therapeutically certified optometrists may employ all diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the human eye and adnexa pursuant to this subsection, excluding the use of injections other than to counteract an anaphylactic reaction, and notwithstanding section 147.107, may without charge supply any of the above pharmaceuticals to commence a course of therapy. Therapeutically certified optometrists may prescribe oral steroids for a period not to exceed fourteen days without consultation with a physician. Therapeutically certified optometrists shall not prescribe oral Imuran or oral Methotrexate. Therapeutically certified optometrists may be authorized, where reasonable and appropriate, by rule of the board, to employ new diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents approved by the United States food and drug administration on or after July 1, 2002, for the diagnosis and treatment of the human eye and adnexa. The board shall not be required to adopt rules relating to topical pharmaceutical agents, oral antimicrobial agents, oral antihistamines, oral antiglaucoma agents, and oral analgesic agents. Superficial foreign bodies may be removed from the human eye and adnexa. The therapeutic efforts of a therapeutically certified optometrist are intended for the purpose of examination, diagnosis, and treatment of visual defects, abnormal conditions, and diseases of the human eye and adnexa, for proper optometric practice or referral for consultation or treatment to persons licensed under chapter 148. A therapeutically certified optometrist is an optometrist who is licensed to practice optometry in this state and who is certified by the board to use the agents and procedures authorized pursuant to this subsection.          Section History: Early Form [S13, § 2583-g; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 2574; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 154.1]          Section History: Recent Form 85 Acts, ch 248, § 1; 87 Acts, ch 119, § 1; 91 Acts, ch 9, §1; 2002 Acts, ch 1026, §1; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §142; 2007 Acts, ch 159, §1; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §251; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §106 Referred to in § 154.10