2024 Montana Code Annotated
Title 37. Professions and Occupations
Chapter 10. Optometry
Part 1. General
37-10-101. Definitions -- practice of optometry

37-10-101. Definitions -- practice of optometry. (1) The practice of optometry is the profession constituting the art and science of visual care and includes any one of the following acts:

(a) the optometric examination or optometric diagnosis of all of those physiological or anatomical parts or functions that consummate the process of human vision to ascertain the presence of abnormal conditions or functions that may be optometrically diagnosed, corrected, remedied, or relieved;

(b) the employment of any optometric means for the purpose of detecting any condition of the process of vision that may have any significance in a complete optometric eye and vision examination, including the employment and administration of drugs topically applied for examination purposes, limited to cycloplegics, mydriatics, topical anesthetics, dyes such as fluorescein, and for emergency use only, miotics;

(c) the application or prescription of ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, prisms, orthoptics, visual training, and any physical, mechanical, or physiological therapy and the furnishing or application of any prosthetic or therapeutic devices for the correction or relief of visual anomalies;

(d) the administration, dispensation, and prescription of the oral analgesics codeine, propoxyphene, hydrocodone, and dihydrocodeine, alone or in combination with nonscheduled or nonregulated drugs; and

(e) the administration, dispensation, and prescription of those drugs approved by the board for use in ocular treatment limited to the anterior segment of the eye and adnexa. Glaucoma may be treated.

(2) Subsection (1) does not prohibit an optometrist from removing from the eye or adnexa a foreign body that is not intraocular.

(3) Subsection (1) does not allow an optometrist to perform surgery or laser surgery for any purpose.

(4) Unless the context requires otherwise, in this chapter:

(a) "board" means the board of optometry provided for in 2-15-1736; and

(b) "department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.

History: (1), (2)En. Ch. 138, L. 1907; Sec. 1607, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 3155, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3155, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 252, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 361, L. 1977; Sec. 66-1301, R.C.M. 1947; (3)En. 66-1301.1 by Sec. 129, Ch. 350, L. 1974; Sec. 66-1301.1, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 66-1301, 66-1301.1; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 588, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 121, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 306, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 34, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 119, Ch. 483, L. 2001.