CHAPTER 380
OPTOMETRY

Table of Contents

Sec. 20-127. Definitions. Scope of practice. License renewal forms.
Sec. 20-138a. Construction of chapter. Penalty for practice without a license.

      Sec. 20-127. Definitions. Scope of practice. License renewal forms. (a) For the purposes of this chapter:

      (1) The "practice of advanced optometric care" means any one or more of the following practices and procedures: (A) Measuring, examining, diagnosing, preventing, enhancing, managing or treating visual functions, defects of vision, muscular functions or anomalies, or other conditions or diseases of the visual system, the eye and ocular adnexae; (B) the prescribing, supplying, adjusting, fitting or adapting of ophthalmic devices and lenses, spectacles, prisms, orthoptic therapy, visual therapy, visual rehabilitation, oculomotor therapy, tinted lenses, filters, contact lenses, diagnosing, preventing, enhancing, managing, treating or relieving visual functions, defects of vision, muscular functions or anomalies, or diseases of the visual system, the eye and ocular adnexae; (C) the administration or prescription of any pharmaceutical agents related to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the eye and ocular adnexae, excluding nonemergency oral glaucoma agents but including controlled substances under schedules II, III, IV and V in accordance with section 21a-252, subject to the limitations of subsection (f) of this section relating to quantities dispensed, performance or ordering of procedures or laboratory tests related to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the eye and ocular adnexae; these procedures include, but are not limited to, removal of superficial foreign bodies of the corneal epithelium that have not perforated bowman's membrane, ultrasound and topical, oral or injectable medication to counteract anaphylaxis or anaphylactic reaction; (D) the nonsurgical treatment of glaucoma consistent with subsection (k) of this section; or (E) the use of punctal plugs. The "practice of advanced optometric care" does not include surgical treatment of glaucoma, treatment of ocular cancer, treatment of infectious diseases of the retina, diagnosis and treatment of systemic diseases, use of therapeutic lasers, use of injectable medications other than to counteract anaphylaxis or anaphylactic reaction, surgical procedures other than noninvasive procedures, use of general anesthesia, use of intravenous injections, procedures that require the cutting or opening of the globe, enucleation of the eye, extraocular muscle surgery or any invasive procedure performed on the human body other than noninvasive procedures performed on the eye or ocular adnexae.

      (2) "Optometrist" means an individual licensed pursuant to this chapter to engage in the practice of optometry.

      (3) The "practice of optometry" means any one or more of the following practices and procedures: (A) The examination of the human eye and the eyelid for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment excluding the lacrimal drainage system and lacrimal gland or referral for consultation, as authorized by this section or, where appropriate, referral to an ophthalmologist; (B) the use of tests, instruments, devices, ocular agents-D, ocular agents-T and noninvasive procedures for the purpose of investigation, examination, diagnosis, treatment excluding the lacrimal drainage system and lacrimal gland, or correction, as authorized by this section, of visual defects, abnormal conditions or diseases of the human eye and eyelid; (C) the prescription and application of ophthalmic lenses, prisms, filters, devices containing lenses or prisms or filters or any combination thereof, orthoptics, vision training, ocular agents-D for the purpose of diagnosing visual defects, abnormal conditions or diseases of the human eye and eyelid, ocular agents-T and noninvasive procedures for the purpose of correction, alleviation or treatment, as authorized by this section, of visual defects, abnormal conditions or diseases of the human eye and eyelid excluding the lacrimal drainage system, lacrimal gland and structures posterior to the iris but including the treatment of iritis; (D) the examination of the human eye for purposes of prescribing, fitting or insertion of contact lenses to the human eye. The practice of optometry shall not include the use of surgery, x-ray, photocoagulation or ionizing radiation, or the treatment of glaucoma. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit the scope of practice of opticians licensed pursuant to chapter 381 or the practice of physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 370.

      (4) "Ocular agents-D" means: (A) Topically administered agents used for the purpose of diagnosing visual defects, abnormal conditions or the diseases of the human eye and eyelid known generally as cycloplegics not to exceed one per cent, mydriatics other than phenylephrine hydrochloride ten per cent and topical anesthetics, which are administered topically for the examination of the human eye and the analysis of ocular functions; (B) those vision training or optical devices which have been designated drugs for preclearance testing by the federal Food and Drug Administration or similar agency; and (C) fluorescein and similar dyes used in fitting contact lenses. The drugs described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision may be acquired and used only for diagnostic purposes. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to allow an optometrist to acquire or use a controlled substance listed under section 21a-243.

      (5) "Ocular agents-T" means: (A) Topically administered ophthalmic agents used for the purpose of treating or alleviating the effects of diseases or abnormal conditions of the human eye or eyelid excluding the lacrimal drainage system, lacrimal gland and structures posterior to the iris, but including the treatment of iritis, excluding allergens, alpha adrenergic agonists, antiparasitics, antifungal agents, antimetabolites, antineoplastics, beta adrenergic blocking agent, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, collagen corneal shields, epinephrine preparations, miotics used for the treatment of glaucoma, temporary collagen implants and succus cineraria maritima; (B) orally administered antibiotics, antihistamines and antiviral agents used for the purpose of treating or alleviating the effects of diseases or abnormal conditions of the human eye or eyelid excluding the lacrimal drainage system, lacrimal gland and structures posterior to the iris, but including the treatment of iritis; and (C) orally administered analgesic agents used for the purpose of alleviating pain caused by diseases or abnormal conditions of the human eye or eyelid excluding the lacrimal drainage system, lacrimal gland and structures posterior to the iris, but including the treatment of iritis. "Ocular agent-T" does not include any controlled substance or drug administered by injection.

      (6) "Noninvasive procedures" means procedures used to diagnose or treat a disease or abnormal condition of the human eye or eyelid excluding the lacrimal drainage system, lacrimal gland and structures posterior to the iris and which exclude the removal of superficial foreign bodies of the corneal epithelium which have perforated bowman's membrane but including the treatment of iritis, provided the procedures do not require an incision or use of a laser.

      (b) Optometrists who were first licensed prior to April 1, 1985, shall be permitted to acquire and use ocular agents-D topically in the practice of optometry only after they have completed a course which (1) consists of a minimum of forty-five classroom hours and fifteen clinic hours, (2) is conducted by an institution accredited by a regional professional accreditation organization recognized or approved by the National Commission on Accrediting or the United States Commissioner of Education and (3) is approved by the Department of Public Health, and have passed an examination, prescribed by said department with the advice and consent of the board of examiners in optometry, in pharmacology as it applies to optometry, with a particular emphasis on the topical application of ocular agents-D to the eye for the purpose of examination of the human eye and the analysis of ocular functions. Optometrists licensed on and after April 1, 1985, shall not be required to take a course or pass an examination in order to acquire and use said agents topically in the practice of optometry.

      (c) Optometrists who were first licensed in this state prior to January 1, 1991, shall be permitted to acquire, administer, dispense and prescribe ocular agents-T in the practice of optometry only after they have (1) successfully completed a minimum of ninety-six classroom hours and fourteen clinical hours in the didactic and clinical use of ocular agents-T for the purposes of treating deficiencies, deformities, diseases or abnormalities of the human eye, including the removal of foreign bodies from the eye and adnexae, conducted by a duly accredited school or college of optometry or medical school, and have passed an examination as administered by the accredited school or college of optometry or medical school which conducted the course of study and (2) successfully completed a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation offered by an accredited hospital, the American Heart Association or a comparable institution or organization. Proof of successful completion of the courses required under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be reported to the Department of Consumer Protection. Optometrists licensed on and after January 1, 1991, and who have graduated from an accredited school or college of optometry on or after January 1, 1991, shall not be required to take either a course in the didactic and clinical use of ocular agents-T or a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or pass an examination in order to acquire, administer, dispense and prescribe such ocular agents-T.

      (d) Optometrists shall be permitted to engage in the practice of advanced optometric care only after they have (1) successfully completed a minimum of seventy-five classroom hours and fifty-one clinical hours in the study of advanced optometric care that includes the treatment of deficiencies, deformities, diseases or abnormalities of the human eye, including anterior segment disease, lacrimology and glaucoma conducted by a duly accredited school or college of optometry or medical school, (2) passed an examination as administered by the accredited school or college of optometry or medical school that conducted the course of study and (3) met the requirements that permit them to acquire and use ocular agents-D and to acquire, administer, dispense and prescribe ocular agents-T pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

      (e) No licensed optometrist authorized pursuant to this section to acquire, administer, dispense and prescribe an ocular agent-T shall dispense such agent to any person unless no charge is imposed for such agent and the quantity dispensed does not exceed a seventy-two-hour supply, except if the minimum available quantity for said agent is greater than a seventy-two-hour supply, the optometrist may dispense the minimum available quantity.

      (f) No licensed optometrist authorized pursuant to this section to practice advanced optometric care shall dispense controlled substances under schedules II, III, IV and V or under section 21a-252, to any person unless no charge is imposed for such substances and the quantity dispensed does not exceed a seventy-two-hour supply, except if the minimum available quantity for said agent is greater than a seventy-two-hour supply, the optometrist may dispense the minimum available quantity.

      (g) (1) An optometrist may delegate to an optometric assistant, optometric technician or appropriately trained person the use or application of any ocular agent in accordance with section 20-138a, or an optometrist may cause the same to be self-administered by a patient under the care and direction of the optometrist.

      (2) No optometrist shall delegate to any person the authority to prescribe any ocular agent.

      (h) An optometrist shall refer any patient with iritis or a corneal ulcer to an ophthalmologist not later than seventy-two hours after commencement of initial treatment of such condition unless there is documented substantial improvement of such condition within such time period.

      (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 52-184c, each optometrist authorized by this section to practice advanced optometric care, or to use ocular agents-D or ocular agents-T or both, shall be held to the same standard of care as ophthalmologists with regard to such advanced optometric care, the use of such ocular agents-D or ocular agents-T or both and any other procedures authorized by this section.

      (j) Each optometrist authorized pursuant to this section to practice advanced optometric care, or to use ocular agents-D or ocular agents-T or both, shall post in a conspicuous location in each office waiting room, a standardized notice stating that said optometrist is authorized to practice advanced optometric care, or to use ocular agents for diagnosis or treatment or both, within the scope of his practice.

      (k) An optometrist engaged in the practice of advanced optometric care and the nonsurgical treatment of glaucoma shall refer to an ophthalmologist or other physician, for evaluation, any glaucoma patient who (1) presents with an intraocular pressure over thirty-five, (2) presents with the presence of pediatric glaucoma, closed angle glaucoma or secondary glaucoma or (3) does not have documented substantial improvement in response to treatment. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the emergency administration, prior to referral, of medication otherwise authorized under this section.

      (l) Each optometrist authorized pursuant to this section to practice advanced optometric care shall notify the Department of Public Health of his intent to engage in such practice. The Commissioner of Public Health shall develop license renewal forms that indicate whether a person holds himself out as authorized to practice advanced optometric care.

      (m) On and after January 1, 2005, no initial license to engage in optometry shall be issued unless the applicant meets the requirements of this section to practice advanced optometric care. The foregoing provision shall not apply to optometrists licensed in this state prior to January 1, 2005.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4488; P.A. 73-343, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-13, S. 2, 4; P.A. 87-129, S. 1; P.A. 92-88, S. 1; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-70, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-35, S. 1; 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 05-36, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 73-343 replaced definition of optometry as "employment of any means other than drugs for the measurement of the power of vision and the adaptation of lenses for the aid thereof" with detailed definition; P.A. 86-13 added Subsec. (b) and amended Subsec. (a) to allow the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents for examination of the eye and analysis of ocular functions; P.A. 87-129 substituted reference to Sec. 21a-243 for Sec. 21a-242, repealed by the same act; P.A. 92-88 substantially revised the section including redefining optometrist and the practice of optometry, adding definitions of ocular agents-D, ocular agents-T and noninvasive procedures, authorized use of ocular agents-T, provided limits on use of ocular agents-T, added standard of care and included a posting requirement regarding use of ocular agents-T and ocular agents-D; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-70 added the definition of "practice of advanced optometric care", renumbering existing definitions, inserted new Subsec. (d) re requirements for the practice of advanced optometric care, Subsec. (f) re controlled substances, Subsec. (k) re referral requirements and Subsec. (l) re notification and license forms, relettering existing Subsecs. as necessary; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-35 added Subsec. (m) re advanced optometric care requirements for initial license issued after January 1, 2005; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 05-36 amended Subsec. (g) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to allow optometrists to delegate certain duties re ocular agents, and by adding Subdiv. (2) prohibiting the delegation of prescriptive authority for ocular agents.

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      Sec. 20-138a. Construction of chapter. Penalty for practice without a license. (a) No person shall engage in the practice of optometry in this state unless such person has first obtained a license from the Department of Public Health, but the provisions of this chapter shall not prevent a licensed optometrist from delegating optometric services to either a trained optometric assistant or to an optometric technician. Such delegated services shall be performed only under the supervision, control, and responsibility of the licensed optometrist, except that optometric assistants or optometric technicians shall not be authorized to refract eyes, detect eye health, prescribe spectacles, eyeglasses or contact lenses. A licensed optometrist may delegate to an optometric assistant, optometric technician or appropriately trained person the use and application of any ocular agent, provided such delegated service is performed only under the supervision, control and responsibility of the licensed optometrist. Optometric services that may be delegated to an optometric assistant or to an optometric technician may be delegated to an optometric assistant trainee, provided such services are performed only under the direct supervision, control and responsibility of the employing licensed optometrist.

      (b) Any person in violation of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both, for each offense. For purposes of this section each instance of patient contact or consultation which is in violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this section.

      (c) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Optometric assistant" means a person who has either completed two hundred hours of on-the-job training, an affidavit in support of which shall be kept by the employing optometrist on the premises, or graduated from a vocational program in optometric technicianry; (2) "optometric assistant trainee" means a person who has completed less than two hundred hours of on-the-job training and who is under the direct supervision, control and responsibility of an employing, licensed optometrist when performing optometric services which may be delegated to optometric assistants and to optometric technicians; (3) "optometric technician" means a person who has either completed a two-year college program in optometric technicianry, or passed the national optometric technician registration examination given by The American Optometric Association; and (4) "appropriately trained person" means a person who has completed on-the-job training in the use and application of ocular agents under the supervision, control and responsibility of an employing, licensed optometrist, an affidavit in support of which shall be kept by the employing optometrist on the premises.

      (1959, P.A. 616, S. 48; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 153, 176; P.A. 84-526, S. 10; P.A. 88-362, S. 11; 88-364, S. 92, 123; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 05-36, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 transferred licensing power to department from board of examiners, deleting obsolete reference to registration with department as provided in Sec. 19-45; P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of section to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment of not more than five years, and added provisions that each instance of patient contact or consultation shall constitute a separate offense and failure to renew license in timely manner is not a violation for purposes of section; P.A. 88-362 authorized licensed optometrists to delegate optometric services to trained assistants and technicians and added Subsec. (b) defining "optometric assistant", "optometric assistant trainee", and "optometric technician"; P.A. 88-364 made technical changes in Subsec. (b); P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-36 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing optometrists to delegate certain duties re ocular agents, designating existing language re penalties as new Subsec. (b) and making technical changes, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended same by adding Subdiv. (4) defining "appropriately trained person".

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