2021 Wyoming Statutes
Title 33 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 23 - Optometrists
Section 33-23-101 - Definitions; Authorized Scope of Practice; Prohibited Procedures; Exceptions.

33-23-101. Definitions; authorized scope of practice; prohibited procedures; exceptions.

(a) As used in this act:

(i) "Board" means the Wyoming state board of examiners in optometry;

(ii) "License" means a current license to practice optometry in this state issued by the board;

(iii) "Licensee" means a person licensed by the board under this act;

(iv) "Optometrist" or "doctor of optometry" means a person licensed by the board under this act;

(v) "Physician" means a person holding a valid license issued by the Wyoming state board of medicine under the Medical Practice Act;

(vi) "Controlled substance" means any drug, substance or immediate precursor listed in schedules I through V of article III of the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971;

(vii) "Ophthalmic lenses" means any type of spectacle or contact lenses;

(viii) "Contact lenses" shall include contact lenses with or without power;

(ix) "This act" means W.S. 33-23-101 through 33-23-116.

(b) The practice of optometry occurs when a person employs primary human eye care procedures, including:

(i) The examination, diagnosis and treatment of abnormal conditions and diseases of the eye, its adnexa and visual system;

(ii) Measuring the powers and range of vision of the eye to determine the accommodative and refractive state and general function of the eye;

(iii) The adaptation, sale, prescribing and dispensing of frames and ophthalmic lenses in all their forms;

(iv) Ordering and performance of diagnostic laboratory or imaging tests;

(v) The prescribing and administration of pharmaceutical agents, as provided in W.S. 33-23-102;

(vi) Preoperative and postoperative care for those procedures excluded from the practice of optometry under subsection (c) of this section;

(vii) Any laser procedure as set forth by the board's rules and not excluded under subsection (c) of this section.

(c) The following ophthalmic procedures shall be excluded from the authorized practice of optometry:

(i) The following general procedures:

(A) Administration of general anesthesia;

(B) Surgery performed with general anesthesia.

(ii) The following laser procedures:

(A) Corneal procedures;

(B) Procedures of the vitreous chamber of the eye for the purpose of treating any retinal or macular disease;

(C) Retinal procedures.

(iii) The following nonlaser procedures:

(A) Surgery related to removal of an eye from a living person;

(B) Surgery of the bony orbit, including orbital implants;

(C) Incisional or excisional surgery of the extraocular muscles;

(D) Surgery of the eyelid for suspected malignancies or for incisional cosmetic or mechanical repair of blepharochalasis, ptosis or tarsorrhaphy;

(E) Incisional or excisional surgery of the lacrimal system other than probing or related procedures;

(F) Surgery requiring full thickness conjunctivoplasty with graft or flap;

(G) Pterygium surgery;

(H) Surgery requiring full thickness incision or excision of the cornea or sclera, other than paracentesis, in an emergency requiring immediate reduction of pressure inside the eye;

(J) Corneal transplants;

(K) Surgery requiring incision of the iris or ciliary body, including diathermy or cryotherapy;

(M) Surgical extraction of the crystalline lens;

(N) Surgical intraocular implants;

(O) Surgery requiring removal of the vitreous;

(P) Procedures of the vitreous chamber of the eye for the purpose of treating any retinal or macular disease, including intra-vitreal injection;

(Q) Surgery requiring manipulation of the retina;

(R) Intravenous injections.

(d) The provisions of this chapter do not prevent a physician from treating or fitting glasses to the human eye, or a physician or optometrist from filling prescriptions or orders. Nor do the provisions of this chapter prevent the replacing, duplicating or repairing of ophthalmic lenses or the frames or fittings thereof by persons qualified to write or fill prescriptions or orders under the provisions of this act, nor prevent the doing of the merely mechanical work upon such lenses or upon the frames or fittings thereof.

(e) It is unlawful for any person to dispense, replace or duplicate ophthalmic lenses or any contact lenses without a prescription or order from a physician or optometrist. A contact lens prescription shall specifically state that it is intended for contact lenses and include the type and specification of the contact lenses being prescribed. An optometrist shall provide, at no additional cost to the patient, a written copy of his contact lens prescription. The prescription shall only be released after the contact lenses have been adequately fitted and no more follow-up visits are necessary to assure the contact lenses fit the patient. The essential information necessary to duplicate the prescription shall be defined by rules adopted by the board. All contact lens prescriptions shall have an expiration date after which it shall be unlawful to fill such prescription. The prescribing optometrist shall not be liable for any injury or condition to a patient resulting from negligence in packaging, manufacturing or dispensing lenses by anyone other than the prescribing optometrist. Any person may file a complaint with the board seeking disciplinary action concerning any violation of this subsection. The board shall investigate or cause to be investigated and shall resolve a complaint on its own motion or upon receipt of a written complaint as provided by W.S. 33-23-110. No person shall improperly fill a contact lens prescription or fill an expired prescription.

(f) The provisions of this chapter do not prohibit the sale of goggles, sunglasses, colored glasses or occupational eye-protective devices if they do not have refractive values, nor do the provisions of this act prohibit the sale of complete ready-to-wear eyeglasses as merchandise by any person not holding himself out as competent to examine, test or prescribe for the human eye or its refractive errors.

(g) Nothing in this act shall prevent an optometrist from using assistants in his practice under his general supervision as defined in board rule.