Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 216 - Department of health › Chapter 40 - Professional licensing and facility regulation › Subchapter 05 - Professional Licensing › Part 20 - Optometrists (216-RICR-40-05-20) › Section 216-RICR-40-05-20.3 - Definitions

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Wherever used in this Part, the following
				  terms shall be construed to mean:
1. "Act"
				  means R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-35.1, entitled "Optometrists."
2. "Amplified optometrist" means an
				  optometrist licensed in this state to practice optometry and authorized by the
				  Board to administer and prescribe pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of
				  conditions of the human eye and its appendages, including anterior uveitis and
				  glaucoma, without surgery or other invasive techniques, and in accordance with
				  the Act and the requirements herein.
3. "Board" means the Board of Optometry
				  established under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws §
											5-35.1-13.
4. "Certified optometrist" means an
				  optometrist licensed in this state to practice optometry and authorized by the
				  Board to administer and prescribe topical ocular pharmaceutical agents in the
				  treatment of ocular conditions of the anterior segment of the human eye and its
				  appendages, (with the exception of uveitis and glaucoma) without surgery or
				  other invasive techniques, and in accordance with the requirements of the Act
				  and this Part.
5. "Department"
				  means the Rhode Island Department of Health.
6. "Director" means the Director, Rhode
				  Island Department of Health.
7.
				  "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached
				  to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person
				  with the intent to sign the record.
8. "Electronic transmission prescription"
				  means any prescription, other than an oral or written prescription, that is
				  electronically transmitted from an optometrist authorized to prescribe to a
				  pharmacy without alteration by a third party unless authorized by the
				  optometrist or from one pharmacy to another pharmacy.
9. "Facsimile (FAX) prescription" means a
				  written prescription or order that is transmitted by an electronic device that
				  sends the exact image to the receiver (pharmacy) in a hard copy form.
10. "Optometrist" means an individual
				  licensed in this state to practice optometry pursuant to the provisions of R.I.
				  Gen. Laws Chapter 5-35.1 and this Part.
11. "Optometry" means the profession whose
				  practitioners are engaged in the art and science of the evaluation of vision
				  and the examination of vision and the examination and refraction of the human
				  eye which includes: the employment of any objective or subjective means for the
				  examination of the human eye or its appendages; the measurement of the powers
				  or range of human vision or the determination of the accommodative and
				  refractive powers of the human eye or the scope of its functions in general and
				  the adaptation of lenses, prisms, and/or frames for the aid thereof; the
				  prescribing, directing the use of or administering ocular exercises, visual
				  training, vision training, or orthoptics, and the use of any optical device in
				  connection with these; the prescribing of contact lenses for, or the fitting or
				  adaptation of contact lenses to the human eye; the examination or diagnosis of
				  the human eye to ascertain the presence of abnormal conditions or functions;
				  and the application of pharmaceutical agents to the eye. Provided, however,
				  that no optometrist licensed in this state shall perform any surgery for the
				  purpose of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye. With
				  respect to presently licensed optometrists, only presently licensed
				  optometrists who:
a. Have satisfactorily
				  completed a course in pharmacology, as it applies to optometry, at an
				  institution accredited by a regional, professional, or academic accreditation
				  organization which is recognized by a national commission on accreditation,
				  such as the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), with
				  particular emphasis on the application of drugs to the eye for the purposes of
				  detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye; or the effects of
				  any disease or pathological condition of the eye, approved by the Board of
				  Optometry and the Department; or
b.
				  Have successfully passed all sections of the National Board of Examiners in
				  Optometry (NBEO) examination; and the treatment and management of ocular
				  disease (TMOD) examination shall be permitted to apply pharmaceutical agents to
				  the eye for the purpose of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of
				  the eye, or the effects of any disease or pathological condition of the
				  eye.
12. "Pharmaceutical
				  agents" means any medications as determined by the Department, except those
				  specified in schedules I and II as provided in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter
				  21-28.
13. "Vision training", as
				  referenced in the definition of optometry in §
											20.3(A)(11)   of this Part, includes:
a. "Vision therapy" means the assessment,
				  diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of treatment for conditions of the visual
				  system or management of a patient with vision therapy, visual training, visual
				  rehabilitation, orthopics or eye exercises. Anyone who holds him/herself out as
				  being able to do so for the rehabilitation and/or treatment of physical,
				  physiological, sensorimotor, neuromuscular or perceptual anomalies of the eyes
				  or vision system or who prescribes or utilizes lenses, prisms, filters,
				  occlusion, or other devices for the enhancement, rehabilitation and/or
				  treatment of the visual system or prevention of visual dysfunctions, except
				  under the supervision and management of a licensed optometrist, is engaged in
				  the practice of optometry.
b. "Low
				  vision rehabilitation" means the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the
				  low vision patient, including but not limited to, prescription, low vision
				  rehabilitation therapy, education and interdisciplinary consultation when
				  indicated. Any person who prescribes or provides comprehensive low vision care
				  for the rehabilitation and/or treatment of the visually impaired or legally
				  blind patient, prescribes corrective spectacles, contact lenses, prisms, or
				  filters, employs any means for the adaptation of lenses, low vision devices,
				  prisms, filters, evaluates the need for, recommends, or prescribes optical,
				  electronic or other low vision devices; or recommends or provides low vision
				  rehabilitation services independent of a clinical treatment plan prescribed by
				  an optometrist or ophthalmologist shall be considered to be engaged in the
				  practice of optometry.