2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 40 - Optometrists
§ 12-40-102. Practice of optometry defined

(1) (a) The "practice of optometry" means the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the vision system, eyes, and adjacent and associated structures, including the use or prescription of lenses, prisms, vision therapy, vision rehabilitation, and prescription or nonprescription drugs including schedule II controlled narcotic substances limited to hydrocodone combination drugs and schedule III, IV, and V controlled narcotic substances for ocular disease, so long as an optometrist is practicing within the scope of his or her education as is commonly taught in accredited schools and colleges of optometry and is practicing in accordance with applicable federal and Colorado law and board rules.

(b) The following are part of the practice of optometry:

(I) The removal of superficial foreign bodies from the human eye or its appendages;

(II) Postoperative care in the following situations:

(A) With referral from a physician;

(B) If ninety days have expired after the surgery unless the physician justifies medically indicated reasons for extending the postoperative period; and

(C) If the patient has been released by the physician;

(III) The treatment of anterior uveitis;

(IV) The treatment of glaucoma with all topical and oral antiglaucoma drugs;

(V) Epilation;

(VI) Dilation and irrigation of the lacrimal system;

(VII) Punctal plug insertion and removal;

(VIII) Anterior corneal puncture;

(IX) Corneal scraping for cultures;

(X) Debridement of corneal epithelium; and

(XI) Removal of corneal epithelium.

(c) Any person who is engaged in the prescribing or performing without referral of visual training or orthoptics, the prescribing of any contact lenses, including plano or cosmetic contact lenses, the fitting or adaptation of such contact lenses to the human eye, the use of scientific instruments to train the visual system or any abnormal condition of the eyes for the correction or improvement of, or the relief to, the visual function, or who holds oneself out as being able to do so, is engaged in the practice of optometry.

(d) The "practice of optometry" does not include:

(I) Surgery of or injections into the globe, orbit, eyelids, or ocular adnexa. "Surgery" means any procedure in which human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or laser means.

(II) The use of schedule I or II narcotics, except for hydrocodone combination drugs;

(III) Treatment of posterior uveitis; or

(IV) The use of injectable drugs, except for the use of an epinephrine auto-injector to counteract anaphylactic reaction.

(2) A licensed optometrist who uses or prescribes prescription or nonprescription drugs shall provide the same level and standard of care to his or her patients as the standard of care provided by an ophthalmologist using or prescribing the same drugs.

(3) A therapeutic optometrist is an optometrist licensed pursuant to this article who meets the requirements of section 12-40-109.5 (1.5) and (3). A licensed optometrist shall not use prescription or nonprescription drugs for treatment of eye disease or disorder or for any therapeutic purpose unless he or she is a therapeutic optometrist.

(4) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2011, (SB 11-094), ch. 129, p. 443, § 10, effective April 22, 2011.)

(5) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2011, (SB 11-094), ch. 129, p. 443, § 10, effective April 22, 2011.)

(b) Nothing in this section prohibits an optometrist from charging a fee for prescribing, adjusting, fitting, adapting, or dispensing drugs for ophthalmic purposes and ophthalmic devices, such as contact lenses, that are classified by the federal food and drug administration as a drug or device, as long as the drug prescribed, dispensed, or delivered by the ophthalmic device is not a schedule I or II controlled substance, with the exception of hydrocodone combination drugs.

(6) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2011, (SB 11-094), ch. 129, p. 443, § 10, effective April 22, 2011.)

(7) (a) An optometrist who meets the requirements established by the board pursuant to sections 12-40-107 (1) (n) and 12-40-109.5 (3) may treat anterior uveitis and glaucoma.

(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2002, p. 60, § 5, effective July 1, 2002.)