Chapter Opt 6

Opt 6.03(1)(a) (a) The board initially issued a license to practice optometry to the optometrist on or after August 1, 2006.

Opt 6.03(1)(b) (b) The department issued a certificate to the optometrist under s. 449.17, 2003 Stats.

Opt 6.03(1)(c) (c) The board issued a certificate under sub. (2) to an optometrist issued a license to practice optometry before August 1, 2006.

Opt 6.03(2) (2) An optometrist licensed prior to August 1, 2006, shall be certified by the board to use diagnostic pharmaceutical agents if all of the following are completed:

Opt 6.03(2)(a) (a) The optometrist submits an application to the department.

Opt 6.03(2)(b) (b) The optometrist submits satisfactory evidence of 60 classroom hours of a course of study that is in accordance with sub. (3) and that was completed prior to entering the examination required in par. (c).

Opt 6.03(2)(c) (c) The optometrist submits satisfactory evidence of passing one of the following:

Opt 6.03(2)(c)1. 1. Section 9, ocular pharmacology, National Board of Examiners in Optometry administered only after 1981.

Opt 6.03(2)(c)2. 2. Parts I and II, National Board of Examiners in Optometry administered only after 1986.

Opt 6.03(2)(c)3. 3. An exam administered as part of the course of study under par. (b) that, as determined by the board, satisfactorily assesses competency in the subject matter described in sub. (3). The board may require additional evidence to approve the exam.

Opt 6.03(3) (3) A satisfactory course of study under sub. (2) (b) at an approved institution shall include at least 30 classroom hours of a course of study in pharmacology and emphasizes the systemic effects of and reactions to pharmaceutical agents, including the treatment of any adverse reactions that may occur, in accordance with s. 449.17 (1m) (b), Stats.

Opt 6.03 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; am. (1) (a) and (b), Register, September, 1997, No. 501, eff. 10-1-97; CR 06-116: r. and recr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07; correction in (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; CR 19-027: r. and recr. Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20; corrections in (2) (intro.), (3) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2020 No. 769.

Opt 6.04 Opt 6.04 Certificate to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and remove foreign bodies from eyes.

Opt 6.04(1) (1) A licensed optometrist who has submitted an adverse drug reaction referral plan in accordance with s. Opt 6.025 is authorized to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and remove foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye if any of the following applies:

Opt 6.04(1)(a) (a) The board initially issued a license to practice optometry to the optometrist on or after August 1, 2006.

Opt 6.04(1)(b) (b) The board issued a certificate to the optometrist under s. 449.18, 2003 Stats.

Opt 6.04(1)(c) (c) The board issued a certificate under sub. (2) to an optometrist issued a license to practice optometry before August 1, 2006.

Opt 6.04(2) (2) An optometrist licensed prior to August 1, 2006, shall be certified by the board to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents under this section if all of the following are completed:

Opt 6.04(2)(a) (a) The optometrist has a certificate to use diagnostic pharmaceutical agents in accordance with s. Opt 6.03.

Opt 6.04(2)(b) (b) The optometrist submits an application to the department.

Opt 6.04(2)(c) (c) The optometrist has completed all of the following:

Opt 6.04(2)(c)1. 1. One hundred classroom hours of post doctorate study in the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and the removal of superficial foreign bodies from an eye or from an appendage to the eye, on or after January 1, 1987, at an approved institution and achieved a minimum passing score.

Opt 6.04(2)(c)2. 2. Passed one of the following approved examinations:

Opt 6.04(2)(c)2.a. a. An exam administered as part of the course of study under subd. 1. that, as determined by the board, satisfactorily assesses competency. The board may require additional evidence to approve the exam.

Opt 6.04(2)(c)2.b. b. The Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease, TMOD®, National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam administered after 1985 with a minimum passing score as determined by the board in accordance with s. Opt 3.07.

Opt 6.04(3) (3) An optometrist authorized under this section may not remove a foreign body from an eye or from an appendage to an eye if the foreign body is deeper than Bowman’s layer of the cornea or deeper than the conjunctiva, in accordance with s. 449.18 (5), Stats.

Opt 6.04 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; am. (2), (4) and (5), Register, January, 1993, No. 445, eff. 2-1-93; renum. (1) to be (1) (a) and am., cr. (1) (b), Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; am. (1) (a), Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; renum. (1) (a) to be (1) and am., r. (1) (b), am. (2) to (5), Register, September, 1997, No. 501, eff. 10-1-97: CR 05-036: am. (1), renum. (2) to be (2m), cr. (2), (6) and (7) Register January 2006 No. 601, eff. 2-1-06; CR 06-116: r. and recr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07; correction in (4) (a) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; CR 19-027: r. and recr. Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20; correction in (2) (c) 1. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2020 No. 769.

Opt 6.05 Opt 6.05 Prescribing therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

Opt 6.05(1) (1) Therapeutic pharmaceutical agents may be prescribed or administered by an optometrist only for the ocular therapeutic purposes for which the drugs are intended. These drugs shall be prescribed or administered in accordance with minimum standards and procedures established in the optometric profession. An optometrist may not prescribe or administer a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent which is not authorized under s. SPS 10.03. Approved agents may be used in combination only with other approved agents when appropriate.

Opt 6.05(2) (2) Prior to prescribing beta blockers or carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for the treatment of glaucoma, any oral antiviral, or any other therapeutic pharmaceutical agent under s. SPS 10.03 that may have significant systemic adverse drug reactions, the optometrist shall inform the patient’s primary physician of the treatment plan and document that contact on the patient’s chart. If the patient does not identify a primary physician, the patient shall be referred to a physician to determine the presence or absence of any systemic contraindications to the intended therapeutic agent. Following that assessment, and prior to prescribing, the prescribing optometrist shall contact the examining physician, documenting that contact on the patient’s chart.

Opt 6.05(3) (3) Closed-angle glaucoma shall be considered an emergency in which the treating optometrist shall make immediate referral directly to a physician who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the eye and shall institute any emergency procedures as are directed by that physician.

Opt 6.05 History History: CR 19-027: cr. Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20.