2010 Tennessee Code
Title 63 - Professions Of The Healing Arts
Chapter 8 - Optometrists
63-8-102 - Chapter definitions.

63-8-102. Chapter definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

     (1)  “Board” means the board of optometry created by this chapter, or similar boards created by the optometry law of other states;

     (2)  “Certificate of fitness” means the certificate issued by the board certifying to the division that the person therein named has met the requirements of this chapter and passed the standard examination given by the board;

     (3)  “Certificate of registration” means the certificate issued by the division of health related boards under chapter 1 of this title;

     (4)  “Division” means the division of health related boards in the department of health;

     (5)  “Itinerant certificate” means a certificate issued to an itinerant optometrist pursuant to § 63-8-112(10);

     (6)  “Itinerant optometrist” means an optometrist who maintains an office at a location other than such optometrist's principal office;

     (7)  “Muscular anomalies” means any deviation from the normal standard;

     (8)  “Objective method” means examination for observing symptoms and/or signs with various instruments and techniques that the optometrist finds by means of one (1) or more of the optometrist's five (5) senses; an examination of the eye or eyes conducted by an optometrist, independent of the patient's statements;

     (9)  “Ophthalmic materials” means any lens that has a spherical, cylindrical or prismatic power or value used before or upon the eye, any contact lens that has no prescription power, and any frame or other appliance used for the purpose of holding or positioning any ophthalmic lenses before the eyes;

     (10)  “Optometrist” means a person who is engaged in the practice of optometry as defined;

     (11)  “Orthoptic training” means any ocular exercise for the correction or relief of abnormal muscles or functions of the eyes;

     (12)  “Practice of optometry as a profession” means:

          (A)  The employment of objective or subjective methods, either or both, for the purpose of ascertaining defects of vision or muscular anomalies or other abnormal conditions of the eyes;

          (B)  The prescribing of ophthalmic lenses or prisms to remedy or relieve defects of vision or muscular anomalies, and the prescribing of contact lenses, including those with prescription power and those without prescription power which are worn for cosmetic purposes;

          (C)  The orthoptic training, the adjusting, or fitting or adapting of lenses or prisms or eyeglasses or spectacles to remedy or relieve defects of vision or muscular anomalies; or

          (D)  The supplying, replacement or duplication of an ophthalmic lens or frame; and

          (E)  (i)  One who is engaged in the practice of optometry as a profession, as defined in this subdivision (12), and who has sufficient education and professional competence, as determined by the board, is authorized to examine, diagnose, manage and treat conditions and diseases of the eye and eyelid including:

                     (a)  The administration and prescribing of pharmaceutical agents rational to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid;

                     (b)  The performance of primary eye care procedures rational to the treatment of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid as determined by the board;

                     (c)  The performance or ordering of procedures and laboratory tests rational to the diagnosis of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid; and

                     (d)  Additionally, the authority to administer benadryl, epinephrine or equivalent medication to counteract anaphylaxis or anaphylactic reaction.

                (ii)  All optometrists practicing in this state are prohibited from using non-diagnostic ophthalmic lasers. All optometrists practicing in this state are also prohibited from performing cataract surgery or any surgical procedure requiring other than a topical anesthetic. All optometrists practicing in this state are also prohibited from performing radial keratotomy.

                (iii)  Any optometrist practicing under the authority of this section shall be held to the same standards of care as that of other physicians providing similar services. No optometrist shall practice under the provisions of this section unless and until the optometrist has submitted to the board evidence of satisfactory completion of all education requirements of § 63-8-112, and has been certified by the board as educationally qualified.

                (iv)  One who is engaged in the practice of optometry as a profession, as hereinabove defined, and who has sufficient education and professional competence, as determined by the board, and who has transcript credit of at least six (6) quarter hours in a course or courses in general and ocular pharmacology, with particular emphasis on diagnostic pharmaceutical agents applied topically to the eye, from a college or university accredited by a regional or professional accreditation organization that is recognized or approved by the board, is authorized to utilize in connection therewith diagnostic pharmaceutical agents (miotics, mydriatics, cycloplegics and anesthetics) applied topically only;

     (13)  “Principal office” means the office location so designated by the optometrist involved; provided, that such office is the location at which the optometrist engages in the majority of the optometrist's practice;

     (14)  “Standard examination” means the examination prescribed by § 63-8-115; and

     (15)  “State” means any of the fifty (50) states of the union, the District of Columbia and territories of the United States.

[Acts 1925, ch. 99, § 2; Shan. Supp., § 3654a10; Code 1932, § 7027; Acts 1935, ch. 129, § 1; 1939, ch. 90, §§ 1, 2; impl. am. Acts 1947, ch. 9, §§ 2-4, 9; C. Supp. 1950, § 7027; Acts 1953, ch. 113, § 37; 1975, ch. 116, § 1; modified; Acts 1977, ch. 490, § 2; 1979, ch. 406, §§ 1-8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-802; Acts 1984, ch. 937, § 34; 1987, ch. 217, § 1; 1993, ch. 295, § 1; 2003, ch. 167, § 1; 2005, ch. 4, §§ 1, 2.]