Volume XXIV , Number 1 Fall/Winter 1999/2000
PRESCRIPTIVEAUTHORITY FOR THERAPEUTIC OPTOMETRISTS
Effective September 1, 1999, the Optometry Act was amended to allow therapeutic optometrists to prescribe antiviral topical medications in addition to the topical medications already authorized. In addition, therapeutic optometrists will be able to prescribe the following oral medications for diagnosing and treating visual defects, abnormal conditions, and diseases of the human vision system, when properly certified as an optometric glaucoma specialist:
- one 10-day supply of an oral antibiotic;
- one 72-hour supply of an oral antihistamine;
- one 7-day supply of an oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory;
- one 3-day supply of any analgesic in Schedules III-V (prescriber must have a current DPS and DEA registration);
- any other oral pharmaceutical recommended by the optometric health care advisory committee and approved by the Optometry Board and the Medical Board. (At publication time, no further drugs have been added to the list.)
For a list of topical drugs which optometrists may prescribe, see page 471 of the 1998 edition of the Texas Pharmacy Laws and Regulations.
