(a) The practice of optometry includes the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management of disorders and dysfunctions of the visual system, as authorized by this chapter, as well as the provision of habilitative or rehabilitative optometric services, and is the doing of any or all of the following:

(1) The examination of the human eyes and their adnexa, including through the use of all topical and oral diagnostic pharmaceutical agents that are not controlled substances, and the analysis of the human vision system, either subjectively or objectively.

(2) The determination of the powers or range of human vision and the accommodative and refractive states of the human eyes, including the scope of their functions and general condition.

(3) The prescribing, using, or directing the use of any optical device in connection with ocular exercises, visual training, vision training, or orthoptics.

(4) The prescribing, fitting, or adaptation of contact and spectacle lenses to, the human eyes, including lenses that may be classified as drugs or devices by any law of the United States or of this state, and diagnostic or therapeutic contact lenses that incorporate a medication or therapy the optometrist is certified to prescribe or provide.

(5) For an optometrist certified pursuant to Section 3041.3, diagnosing and preventing conditions and diseases of the human eyes and their adnexa, and treating nonmalignant conditions and diseases of the anterior segment of the human eyes and their adnexa, including ametropia and presbyopia:

(A) Using or prescribing, including for rational off-label purposes, topical and oral prescription and nonprescription therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that are not controlled substances and are not antiglaucoma agents or limited or excluded by subdivision (b). For purposes of this section, “controlled substance” has the same meaning as used in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code) and the United States Uniform Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.).

(B) Prescribing the oral analgesic controlled substance codeine with compounds, hydrocodone with compounds, and tramadol as listed in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code) and the United States Uniform Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.), limited to three days, with referral to an ophthalmologist if the pain persists.

(C) If also certified under subdivision (c), using or prescribing topical and oral antiglaucoma agents for the medical treatment of all primary open-angle, exfoliation, pigmentary, and steroid-induced glaucomas in persons 18 years of age or over. In the case of steroid-induced glaucoma, the prescriber of the steroid medication shall be promptly notified if the prescriber did not refer the patient to the optometrist for treatment.

(D) If also certified under subdivision (d), independent initiation and administration of immunizations for influenza, herpes zoster virus, pneumococcus, and SARS-CoV-2 in compliance with individual Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vaccine recommendations published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in persons 18 years of age or over.

(E) Utilizing the following techniques and instrumentation necessary for the diagnosis of conditions and diseases of the eye and adnexa:

(i) Laboratory tests or examinations ordered from an outside facility.

(ii) Laboratory tests or examinations performed in a laboratory with a certificate of waiver under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) (42 U.S.C. § 263a; Public Law 100-578), which shall also be allowed for:

(I) Detecting indicators of possible systemic disease that manifests in the eye for the purpose of facilitating appropriate referral to or consultation with a physician and surgeon.

(II) Detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

(iii) Skin testing performed in an office to diagnose ocular allergies, limited to the superficial layer of the skin.

(iv) X-rays ordered from an outside facility.

(v) Other imaging studies ordered from an outside facility subject to prior consultation with an appropriate physician and surgeon.

(vi) Other imaging studies performed in an office, including those that utilize laser or ultrasound technology, but excluding those that utilize radiation.

(F) Performing the following procedures, which are excluded from restrictions imposed on the performance of surgery by paragraph (6) of subdivision (b), unless explicitly indicated:

(i) Corneal scraping with cultures.

(ii) Debridement of corneal epithelium not associated with band keratopathy.

(iii) Mechanical epilation.

(iv) Collection of blood by skin puncture or venipuncture for laboratory testing authorized by this subdivision.

(v) Suture removal subject to comanagement requirements in paragraph (7) of subdivision (b).

(vi) Treatment or removal of sebaceous cysts by expression.

(vii) Lacrimal punctal occlusion using plugs, or placement of a stent or similar device in a lacrimal canaliculus intended to deliver a medication the optometrist is certified to prescribe or provide.

(viii) Foreign body and staining removal from the cornea, eyelid, and conjunctiva with any appropriate instrument. Removal of corneal foreign bodies and any related stain shall, as relevant, be limited to that which is nonperforating, no deeper than the midstroma, and not reasonably anticipated to require surgical repair.

(ix) Lacrimal irrigation and dilation in patients 12 years of age or over, excluding probing of the nasolacrimal tract. The board shall certify any optometrist who graduated from an accredited school of optometry before May 1, 2000, to perform this procedure after submitting proof of satisfactory completion of 10 procedures under the supervision of an ophthalmologist as confirmed by the ophthalmologist. Any optometrist who graduated from an accredited school of optometry on or after May 1, 2000, shall be exempt from the certification requirement contained in this paragraph.

(x) Administration of oral fluorescein for the purpose of ocular angiography.

(xi) Intravenous injection for the purpose of performing ocular angiography at the direction of an ophthalmologist as part of an active treatment plan in a setting where a physician and surgeon is immediately available.

(xii) Use of noninvasive devices delivering intense pulsed light therapy or low-level light therapy that do not rely on laser technology, limited to treatment of conditions and diseases of the adnexa.

(xiii) Use of an intranasal stimulator in conjunction with treatment of dry eye syndrome.

(G) Using additional noninvasive medical devices or technology that:

(i) Have received a United States Food and Drug Administration approved indication for the diagnosis or treatment of a condition or disease authorized by this chapter. A licensee shall successfully complete any clinical training imposed by a related manufacturer prior to using any of those noninvasive medical devices or technologies.

(ii) Have been approved by the board through regulation for the rational treatment of a condition or disease authorized by this chapter. Any regulation under this paragraph shall require a licensee to successfully complete an appropriate amount of clinical training to qualify to use each noninvasive medical device or technology approved by the board pursuant to this paragraph.

(b) Exceptions or limitations to the provisions of subdivision (a) are as follows:

(1) Treatment of the following is excluded from the practice of optometry in a patient under 18 years of age, unless explicitly allowed otherwise:

(A) Anterior segment inflammation, which shall not exclude treatment of:

(i) The conjunctiva.

(ii) Nonmalignant ocular surface disease, including dry eye syndrome.

(iii) Contact lens-related inflammation of the cornea.

(iv) An infection of the cornea.

(B) Conditions or diseases of the sclera.

(2) Use of any oral prescription steroid anti-inflammatory medication for a patient under 18 years of age shall be done pursuant to a documented, timely consultation with an appropriate physician and surgeon.

(3) Use of any nonantibiotic oral prescription medication for a patient under five years of age shall be done pursuant to a documented, prior consultation with an appropriate physician and surgeon.

(4) The following classes of agents are excluded from the practice of optometry unless they have an explicit United States Food and Drug Administration-approved indication for treatment of a condition or disease authorized under this section:

(A) Antiamoebics.

(B) Antineoplastics.

(C) Coagulation modulators.

(D) Hormone modulators.

(E) Immunomodulators.

(5) The following are excluded from authorization under subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a):

(A) A laboratory test or imaging study.

(B) Any noninvasive device or technology that constitutes surgery under paragraph (6).

(6) Performing surgery is excluded from the practice of optometry. “Surgery” means any act in which human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by any means. It does not mean an act that solely involves the administration or prescribing of a topical or oral therapeutic pharmaceutical.

(7) (A) Treatment with topical and oral medications authorized in subdivision (a) related to an ocular surgery shall be comanaged with the ophthalmologist that performed the surgery, or another ophthalmologist designated by that surgeon, during the customary preoperative and postoperative period for the procedure. For purposes of this subparagraph, this may involve treatment of ocular inflammation in a patient under 18 years of age.

(B) Where published, the postoperative period shall be the “global” period established by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or, if not published, a reasonable period not to exceed 90 days.

(C) Such comanaged treatment may include addressing agreed-upon complications of the surgical procedure occurring in any ocular or adnexal structure with topical and oral medications authorized in subdivision (a). For patients under 18 years of age, this subparagraph shall not apply unless the patient’s primary care provider agrees to allowing comanagement of complications.

(c) An optometrist certified pursuant to Section 3041.3 shall be certified to medically treat authorized glaucomas under this chapter after meeting the following requirements:

(1) For licensees who graduated from an accredited school of optometry on or after May 1, 2008, submission of proof of graduation from that institution.

(2) For licensees who were certified to treat glaucoma under this section before January 1, 2009, submission of proof of completion of that certification program.

(3) For licensees who completed a didactic course of not less than 24 hours in the diagnosis, pharmacological, and other treatment and management of glaucoma, submission of proof of satisfactory completion of the case management requirements for certification established by the board.

(4) For licensees who graduated from an accredited school of optometry on or before May 1, 2008, and who are not described in paragraph (2) or (3), submission of proof of satisfactory completion of the requirements for certification established by the board under Chapter 352 of the Statutes of 2008.

(d) An optometrist certified pursuant to Section 3041.3 shall be certified to administer authorized immunizations, as described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), after the optometrist meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Completes an immunization training program endorsed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education that, at a minimum, includes hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines, and maintains that training.

(2) Is certified in basic life support.

(3) Complies with all state and federal recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including providing documentation to the patient’s primary care provider and entering information in the appropriate immunization registry designated by the immunization branch of the State Department of Public Health.

(4) Applies for an immunization certificate in accordance with Section 3041.5.

(e) Other than for prescription ophthalmic devices described in subdivision (b) of Section 2541, any dispensing of a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent by an optometrist shall be without charge.

(f) An optometrist licensed under this chapter is subject to the provisions of Section 2290.5 for purposes of practicing telehealth.

(g) For the purposes of this chapter, all of the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Adnexa” means the eyelids and muscles within the eyelids, the lacrimal system, and the skin extending from the eyebrows inferiorly, bounded by the medial, lateral, and inferior orbital rims, excluding the intraorbital extraocular muscles and orbital contents.

(2) “Anterior segment” means the portion of the eye anterior to the vitreous humor, including its overlying soft tissue coats.

(3) “Ophthalmologist” means a physician and surgeon, licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, specializing in treating eye disease.

(4) “Physician and surgeon” means a physician and surgeon licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(5) “Prevention” means use or prescription of an agent or noninvasive device or technology for the purpose of inhibiting the development of an authorized condition or disease.

(6) “Treatment” means use of or prescription of an agent or noninvasive device or technology to alter the course of an authorized condition or disease once it is present.

(h) In an emergency, an optometrist shall stabilize, if possible, and immediately refer any patient who has an acute attack of angle closure to an ophthalmologist.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 596, Sec. 3. (AB 2574) Effective January 1, 2023.)