Current through February 24, 2025
(a) A licensee may
not perform ophthalmic surgery as defined in
AS
08.72.278(c), unless the
procedure is an expanded therapeutic procedure as defined under this section
and the licensee is authorized by the board to perform the procedure.
(b) The board may authorize a qualified
licensee to perform an expanded therapeutic procedure or procedures in the
practice of optometry. A licensee requesting authorization to perform an
expanded therapeutic procedure shall have satisfactorily completed a course in
the expanded therapeutic procedure provided by an institution accredited by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation and approved by the board, and shall
further satisfy the requirements of this section.
(c) The board may authorize a licensee to
perform an expanded therapeutic procedure if the licensee provides:
(1) proof of a current license in good
standing to practice optometry in this state; and
(2) evidence satisfactory to the board that
the licensee successfully completed a course of instruction in an expanded
therapeutic procedure approved by the board.
(d) To be approved by the board, a course in
an expanded therapeutic procedure shall include:
(1) didactic classroom instruction in
(A) laser physics, hazards, and
safety;
(B) biophysics of lasers;
(C) laser application on clinical
optometry;
(D) laser tissue
interactions;
(E) laser
indications, contraindication, and potential complications;
(G) laser therapy for open angle
glaucoma;
(H) laser therapy for
angle closure glaucoma;
(I) laser
posterior capsulotomy;
(J) common
complications of the lids, lashes, and the lacrimal system;
(L) medicolegal aspects of anterior segment
procedures;
(M) peripheral
iridotomy;
(N) laser
trabeculoplasty;
(O) minor surgical
procedures;
(P) In overview of
surgical instruments, asepsis, and Occupational Safety and Health
Administration regulations;
(Q)
surgical anatomy of the eyelids;
(R) emergency surgical procedures;
(S) chalazion management;
(T) epiluminescence microscopy;
(U) local anesthesia techniques and
complications;
(V) anaphylaxis and
other office emergencies;
(W)
radiofrequency surgery; and
(X)
post-operative wound care;
(2) clinical or laboratory experience
incorperating
(B) in vitro
observation or participation; and
(3) passage of a formal clinical
or laboratory practical examination; and
(4) passage of a written test administered by
the educational institution providing the course, that uses the National Board
of Examiners in Optometry format.
(e) A course of instruction maybe considered
for approval by the board if the course;
(1)
meets the requirements of (d) of this section;
(2) is provided by an accredited optometry
school under (b) of this section;
(3) is at least 32 clock hours in
length;
(4) is completed after
graduation from optometry school; and
(5) is completed after January 1,2016.
(f) The bond may
consider a course of instruction For applied if the course satisfies the
requirements of (e)(1) through (e)(4) of this section, but was completed before
January 1, 2016, if the licensee
(1) has been
practicing in a state that allows expanded therapeutic procedures immediately
preceding the date of request for authorization of expanded therapeutic
procedures;
(2) has continuously
practiced in that state from the time of completion of the approved course;
and
(3) provides an affidavit
verifying a minimum of 1,040 hours of active clinical practice in optometry for
each year since the date of completion of the approved course.
(g) An optometrist licensed and
authorized by the board to perform an expanded therapeutic procedure in the
practice of optometry shall be limited within the scope of the boards
authorization under (b) of this section. A license issued to the licensee must
expressly identify each approved approved expanded therapeutic procedure the
licensee is authorized to perform.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of
this section, a licensee may not perform ophthalmic surgery for the following
procedures, but may provide preoperative and postoperative care for
(1) retina laser procedures;
(2) laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis
(LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK);
(3) surgery related to removal of the eye
from a living human being;
(4)
surgery requiring full thickness incision or excision of the cornea or sclera
other than paracentesis in an emergency situation requiring immediate reduction
of the intraocular pressure;
(5)
penetrating keratoplasty/or lamellar keratoplasty;
(6) non-laser surgery requiring incision of
the iris and ciliary body, including iris diathermy or cryotherapy;
(7) non-laser surgery requiring incision of
the vitreous;
(8) surgery
requiring incision of the retina;
(9) surgical extraction of the crystalline
lens;
(10) surgical implantation
of intraocular lens implants;
(11)
incisional or excisional surgery of the extraocular muscles;
(12) non-laser surgery of the eyelid for
eyelid malignancies or for incisional cosmetic or mechanical repair of
blepharochalasis, ptosis, and tarsorrhaphy;
(13) surgery of the bony orbit, including
orbital implants;
(14) incisional
or excisional non-laser surgery of the lacrimal system other than lacrimal
probing or related procedures;
(15)
surgery requiring full thickness conjunctivoplasty with graft or
flap;
(16) any non-laser surgical
procedure that does not provide for the correction and relief of ocular or
ocular adnexa abnormalities;
(17)
injection into the posterior chamber of the eye to treat any macular or retinal
disease
(i) A licensee
trating a patient with an eyelid or adnexal lesion found to be malignant shall
refer the patient to a practitioner trained and qualified to treat those
lesions.
(j) A licensee may not
perform an injection to the posterior segment or chamber, or retinal tissue to
treat any macular or retina disease.
(k) A licensee who performs an expanded
therapeutic procedure without board authorization may be subject to
disciplinary sanctions under
AS
08.72.240.
(l) For the purpose of section expanded
therapeutic procedure" means an ophthalmic surgery approved by the board in
compliance with
AS
08.72.278, and may include anterior segment
laser procedures, anterior segment surgical procedures, YAG laser capsulotomy,
laser peripheral iridotomy, and laser trabeculoplasty.
Authority:
AS 08.72..050
AS 08.72.273
AS 08.72.278
