Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 216 - Department of health
Chapter 40 - Professional licensing and facility regulation
Subchapter 05 - Professional Licensing
Part 20 - Optometrists (216-RICR-40-05-20)
Section 216-RICR-40-05-20.3 - Definitions
Universal Citation: 216 RI Code of Rules 40 05 20.3
Current through September 18, 2024
A. Wherever used in this Part, the following terms shall be construed to mean:
1. "Act"
means R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-35.1, entitled "Optometrists."
2. "Amplified optometrist" means an
optometrist licensed in this state to practice optometry and authorized by the
Board to administer and prescribe pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of
conditions of the human eye and its appendages, including anterior uveitis and
glaucoma, without surgery or other invasive techniques, and in accordance with
the Act and the requirements herein.
3. "Board" means the Board of Optometry
established under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws §
5-35.1-13.
4. "Certified optometrist" means an
optometrist licensed in this state to practice optometry and authorized by the
Board to administer and prescribe topical ocular pharmaceutical agents in the
treatment of ocular conditions of the anterior segment of the human eye and its
appendages, (with the exception of uveitis and glaucoma) without surgery or
other invasive techniques, and in accordance with the requirements of the Act
and this Part.
5. "Department"
means the Rhode Island Department of Health.
6. "Director" means the Director, Rhode
Island Department of Health.
7.
"Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached
to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person
with the intent to sign the record.
8. "Electronic transmission prescription"
means any prescription, other than an oral or written prescription, that is
electronically transmitted from an optometrist authorized to prescribe to a
pharmacy without alteration by a third party unless authorized by the
optometrist or from one pharmacy to another pharmacy.
9. "Facsimile (FAX) prescription" means a
written prescription or order that is transmitted by an electronic device that
sends the exact image to the receiver (pharmacy) in a hard copy form.
10. "Optometrist" means an individual
licensed in this state to practice optometry pursuant to the provisions of R.I.
Gen. Laws Chapter 5-35.1 and this Part.
11. "Optometry" means the profession whose
practitioners are engaged in the art and science of the evaluation of vision
and the examination of vision and the examination and refraction of the human
eye which includes: the employment of any objective or subjective means for the
examination of the human eye or its appendages; the measurement of the powers
or range of human vision or the determination of the accommodative and
refractive powers of the human eye or the scope of its functions in general and
the adaptation of lenses, prisms, and/or frames for the aid thereof; the
prescribing, directing the use of or administering ocular exercises, visual
training, vision training, or orthoptics, and the use of any optical device in
connection with these; the prescribing of contact lenses for, or the fitting or
adaptation of contact lenses to the human eye; the examination or diagnosis of
the human eye to ascertain the presence of abnormal conditions or functions;
and the application of pharmaceutical agents to the eye. Provided, however,
that no optometrist licensed in this state shall perform any surgery for the
purpose of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye. With
respect to presently licensed optometrists, only presently licensed
optometrists who:
a. Have satisfactorily
completed a course in pharmacology, as it applies to optometry, at an
institution accredited by a regional, professional, or academic accreditation
organization which is recognized by a national commission on accreditation,
such as the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), with
particular emphasis on the application of drugs to the eye for the purposes of
detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye; or the effects of
any disease or pathological condition of the eye, approved by the Board of
Optometry and the Department; or
b.
Have successfully passed all sections of the National Board of Examiners in
Optometry (NBEO) examination; and the treatment and management of ocular
disease (TMOD) examination shall be permitted to apply pharmaceutical agents to
the eye for the purpose of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of
the eye, or the effects of any disease or pathological condition of the
eye.
12. "Pharmaceutical
agents" means any medications as determined by the Department, except those
specified in schedules I and II as provided in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter
21-28.
13. "Vision training", as
referenced in the definition of optometry in §
20.3(A)(11)
of this Part, includes:
a. "Vision therapy"
means the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of treatment for
conditions of the visual system or management of a patient with vision therapy,
visual training, visual rehabilitation, orthopics or eye exercises. Anyone who
holds him/herself out as being able to do so for the rehabilitation and/or
treatment of physical, physiological, sensorimotor, neuromuscular or perceptual
anomalies of the eyes or vision system or who prescribes or utilizes lenses,
prisms, filters, occlusion, or other devices for the enhancement,
rehabilitation and/or treatment of the visual system or prevention of visual
dysfunctions, except under the supervision and management of a licensed
optometrist, is engaged in the practice of optometry.
b. "Low vision rehabilitation" means the
evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the low vision patient, including but
not limited to, prescription, low vision rehabilitation therapy, education and
interdisciplinary consultation when indicated. Any person who prescribes or
provides comprehensive low vision care for the rehabilitation and/or treatment
of the visually impaired or legally blind patient, prescribes corrective
spectacles, contact lenses, prisms, or filters, employs any means for the
adaptation of lenses, low vision devices, prisms, filters, evaluates the need
for, recommends, or prescribes optical, electronic or other low vision devices;
or recommends or provides low vision rehabilitation services independent of a
clinical treatment plan prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist shall
be considered to be engaged in the practice of
optometry.
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