PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

H.B. 256

(g) The Department shall collect and report statistical information on the
incidences of negative reactions to the administration by optometrists of topical ocular
diagnostic pharmaceutical agents.

11-404.1.

(A)     UNLESS CERTIFIED UNDER THIS SECTION, A LICENSED OPTOMETRIST
MAY NOT ADMINISTER OR PRESCRIBE ANY THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL
AGENTS OR REMOVE SUPERFICIAL FOREIGN BODIES FROM A HUMAN EYE OR
ADNEXA, ADNEXA, OR LACRIMAL SYSTEM.

(B)     (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE
BOARD SHALL CERTIFY A LICENSED OPTOMETRIST AS QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER
AND PRESCRIBE THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS AND TO REMOVE
SUPERFICIAL FOREIGN BODIES FROM THE HUMAN EYE OR ADNEXA A
THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST IF THE LICENSED OPTOMETRIST
SUBMITS TO THE BOARD EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD THAT THE
LICENSED OPTOMETRIST:

(1) (I) HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AT LEAST 110 HOURS OF A
THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS COURSE APPROVED BY THE BOARD;
EXCEPT THAT AN OPTOMETRIST WHO HAS GRADUATED FROM AN ACCREDITED
SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY RECOGNIZED BY THE BOARD ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1993
MAY NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENT OF THIS PARAGRAPH;

(2) (II) HAS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A PHARMACOLOGY
EXAMINATION:

(I) RELATING TO THE TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF
OCULAR DISEASE, WHICH IS PREPARED, ADMINISTERED, AND GRADED BY THE
NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY OR ANY OTHER NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED OPTOMETRIC ORGANIZATION AS APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY; OR
AND

(II) THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE EXAMINATION DESCRIBED IN
SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, WHICH IS PREPARED, ADMINISTERED,
AND GRADED BY A PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED TESTING ORGANIZATION
RECOGNIZED BY THE BOARD; AND

(3) (III) IS CURRENTLY CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD TO ADMINISTER
TOPICAL OCULAR DIAGNOSTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS UNDER § 11-404 OF THIS
SUBTITLE.

(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH, AN OPTOMETRIST WHO HAS GRADUATED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1992
FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY RECOGNIZED BY THE BOARD IS
NOT SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(II) IF AN OPTOMETRIST WHO HAS GRADUATED ON OR AFTER
JULY 1, 1992 FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY RECOGNIZED BY THE
BOARD IS NOT CERTIFIED UNDER THIS SECTION WITHIN 3 YEARS OF GRADUATION,
THE OPTOMETRIST SHALL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A THERAPEUTIC

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