North Dakota Code 43-13-01 – Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 43-13-01
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
1. “Board” means the North Dakota state board of optometry.
2. “Diagnosis and treatment” means the determination, interpretation, and treatment of any visual, muscular, neurological, or anatomical anomaly of the eye which may be aided, relieved, or corrected through visual training procedures or through the use of lenses, prisms, filters, ophthalmic instruments, pharmaceutical agents, or combinations thereof, held either in contact with the eye, or in frames or mountings, as further authorized by this chapter. Laser therapy and the use of invasive surgery are not permitted under this chapter, except superficial foreign bodies may be removed and primary care procedures may be performed.
3. “Optometry” means a primary health care profession whose practitioners are engaged in the evaluation of disorders of the human eye and the examination, diagnosis, and treatment thereof, together with its appendages.
4. “Pharmaceutical agent” means diagnostic pharmaceutical agents or therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. The term includes nonscheduled pharmaceutical agents, except for acetaminophen with thirty milligrams of codeine, that have documented use in the treatment of ocular-related disorders or diseases. As used in this subsection:
a. “Diagnostic pharmaceutical agents” means pharmaceutical agents administered for the evaluation and diagnosis of disorders of the human eye including anesthetics, mydriatics, myotics, cycloplegics, diagnostic dyes, diagnostic stains, and pharmaceutical agents to evaluate abnormal pupil responses.
b. “Therapeutic pharmaceutical agents” includes topically administered and prescribed pharmaceutical agents for treatment of ocular-related disorders or disease, locally administered pharmaceutical agents for primary eye care procedures, oral anti-infective agents, oral antihistaminic agents, and oral analgesics for the treatment of ocular-related disorders or diseases.
5. “Practicing optometry” means:
a. Displaying a sign or in any way advertising as an optometrist.
b. Employing any means for the measurement of the powers of vision or the adaptation of lenses for the aid thereof.
c. Engaging in any manner in the practice of optometry.