§459-1 Optometry; practice of, defined. (a) The practice of optometry, for the purpose of this chapter, is defined to be:

(1) The examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders of the human visual system, the eye, and the eyelids;

(2) The employment of trial frame or trial lenses, and any objective or subjective means or methods, other than the use of surgery, including refractive or therapeutic laser surgery, but including the use and prescription of pharmaceutical agents, as established by the board, and the performance of non-invasive diagnostic procedures or ordering of laboratory tests related to the use of pharmaceutical agents for the purpose of examining, diagnosing, treating, and managing visual, muscular, or other diseases and disorders of the human visual system, the eye, and the eyelids; or

(3) The prescribing, fitting, or adaptation of any ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, prisms, frames, mountings, or orthoptic exercises for the correction or relief of the visual or muscular anomalies of the human eye.

Superficial foreign bodies may be removed from the human eye and eyelids, including the removal of corneal superficial foreign bodies above Bowman's Layer.

(b) Any person who engages in the prescribing of visual training, with or without the use of scientific instruments to train the visual system or other abnormal condition of the eyes, or claims to be able to do so, shall be deemed to be engaged in the practice of optometry and shall first secure and hold an unrevoked and unsuspended license as provided in this chapter; provided that an orthoptist may give visual training, including exercises, under the supervision of a physician or optometrist. The use and prescription of pharmaceutical agents and the removal of superficial foreign bodies from the human eye and eyelid shall be granted to an optometrist licensed under this chapter who has met the requirements under sections 459-7 and 459-7.4.

(c) If while examining or treating a patient a licensed optometrist finds, by history or examination, any ocular abnormality or any evidence of systemic disease requiring further diagnosis and possible treatment beyond the scope of practice as defined in this section, the optometrist shall refer that patient to an appropriate licensed physician. [L 1917, c 187, §1; RL 1925, §1112; RL 1935, §1370; RL 1945, §2801; am L 1949, c 58, §1(1); RL 1955, §68-1; HRS §459-1; am L 1985, c 224, §1 and c 294, §2; am L 1997, c 335, §2; am L 2002, c 164, §3; am L 2004, c 46, §2]

Cross References

Optometric service corporations, see §424-1.

Visual care, see §431:10A-116.