(A) The state vision professionals board shall adopt rules governing the authority of licensed optometrists to employ, apply, administer, and prescribe analgesic controlled substances. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code and in consultation with the state board of pharmacy.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 4725.091

  • practice of optometry: means all of the following:

    (1) The application of optical principles, through technical methods and devices, in the examination of human eyes for the purpose of ascertaining departures from the normal, measuring their functional powers, adapting optical accessories for the aid thereof, and detecting ocular abnormalities that may be evidence of disease, pathology, or injury;

    (2) Employing, applying, administering, and prescribing instruments, devices, and procedures, other than invasive procedures, for purpose of examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease, injury, or other abnormal condition of the visual system;

    (3) Employing, applying, administering, and prescribing topical ocular pharmaceutical agents;

    (4) Employing, applying, administering, and prescribing therapeutic pharmaceutical agents;

    (5) Assisting an individual in determining the individual's blood glucose level by using a commercially available glucose-monitoring device. See Ohio Code 4725.01

  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59

(B) All of the following apply to the state vision professionals board in the adoption of rules under this section:

(1) The board shall not permit an optometrist to employ, apply, administer, or prescribe an analgesic controlled substance other than a drug product that is used for the treatment of pain and meets one of the following conditions:

(a) The product is a preparation that contains an amount of codeine per dosage unit, as specified by the board, and also contains other active, nonnarcotic ingredients, such as acetaminophen or aspirin, in a therapeutic amount.

(b) The product is a preparation that contains an amount of hydrocodone per dosage unit, as specified by the board, and also contains other active, nonnarcotic ingredients, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, in a therapeutic amount.

(c) The product contains or consists of a drug or dangerous drug that was an analgesic included in the practice of optometry under a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certificate immediately prior to March 23, 2015, was not a controlled substance at that time, and subsequently becomes a schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance.

(2) The board shall limit the analgesic controlled substances that optometrists may employ, apply, administer, or prescribe to the drugs that the board determines are appropriate for use in the practice of optometry.

(3) With regard to the prescribing of analgesic controlled substances, the board shall establish prescribing standards to be followed by optometrists. The board shall take into account the prescribing standards that exist within the health care marketplace.

(4) The board shall establish standards and procedures for employing, applying, administering, and prescribing analgesic controlled substances by taking into consideration and examining issues that include the appropriate length of drug therapy, appropriate standards for drug treatment, necessary monitoring systems, and any other factors the board considers relevant.

Last updated March 9, 2023 at 11:51 AM

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