Rule 430-10-.03. Pharmaceutical Agents

1. (1) Pharmaceutical agents which are used by a doctor of optometry for treatment purposes may only be:

   1. (a) Non-narcotic oral analgesics, hydrocodone administered orally, and Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled substances which are oral analgesics;
   2. (b) Used for ocular pain; and
   3. (c) Used for no more than 72 hours without consultation with the patient's physician; provided however that with respect to hydrocodone, used for no more than 48 hours without consultation with the patient's physician; or
   4. (d) Other pharmaceutical agents related to the diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi except Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances.
   5. (e) Pharmaceutical agents related to the diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi by injection, except for sub-tenon, retrobulbar, peribulbar, facial nerve block, subconjunctival anesthetic, dermal filler, intravenous injections, intramuscular injections, intraorbital nerve block, intraocular, or botulinum toxin injections, so long as the licensed optometrist meets the requirements found in the law and the Board's rules regarding injections.
2. (2) Doctors of optometry using pharmaceutical agents shall be held to the same standard of care imposed by Code Section 51-1-27 as would be applied to a physician licensed under Chapter 34 of this title performing similar acts; provided, however, that a doctor of optometry shall not be authorized to treat systemic diseases.

3. (3) In addition to the above, the following pharmaceutical agents may be used for treatment purposes, including ocular pain, by any doctor of optometry who has been certified pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-30-1(2)(A, C & D) to use pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes:

   1. (a) topical and oral antibiotics;
   2. (b) topical and oral antivirals;
   3. (c) topical and oral antifungals;
   4. (d) topical and oral antiallergy;
   5. (e) topical and oral antiglaucoma;
   6. (f) topical steroids;
   7. (g) topical and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory;
   8. (h) oral non-narcotic analgesics;
   9. (i) oral narcotic Schedule III or IV analgesics;
   10. (j) hydrocodone as provided above; and,
   11. (k) other pharmaceutical agents related to the diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi, except Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 43-30-1(2), 43-30-1(2)(C), 43-30-1(2)(D)(i)(I),(ii), 43-30-1(2)(D)(i)(II), 43-30-1(2)(C),(D),(E), 43-30-5.

History. Original Rule entitled "Approved Therapeutic Drugs" adopted. F. Sept. 23, 1988; eff. Oct. 13, 1988.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Feb. 6, 1989; eff. Feb. 26, 1989.

Amended: F. May 16, 1990; eff. June 5, 1990.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 5, 1991; eff. Aug. 25, 1991.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 23, 1991; eff. Jan. 12, 1992.

Amended: F. May 4, 1993; eff. May 24, 1993.

Amended: F. Mar. 15, 1994; eff. Apr. 4, 1994.

Amended: Board sent two filings under same title repealing and readopting Rule. F. July 22, 1994; eff. August 11, 1994. Due to repetitive recision of this Rule, the Administrative Code Section reserves the right not to publish this Rule under O.C.G.A. Sec. 50-13-7(c). Copies can be obtained from Secretary of State, Administrative Procedure Division, 816 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 17, 1994; eff. Sept. 6, 1994. Due to repetitive recision of this Rule, the Administrative Code Section reserves the right not to publish this Rule under O.C.G.A. Sec. 50-13-7(c). Copies can be obtained from Secretary of State, Administrative Procedure Division, 816 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Sept. 27, 1994; eff. Oct. 17, 1994.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. July 7, 1995; eff. July 27, 1995. Due to repetitive recision of this Rule, the Administrative Code Section reserves the right not to publish this Rule under O.C.G.A. Sec. 50-13-7(c). Copies can be obtained from Secretary of State, Administrative Procedure Division, 816 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 17, 1995; eff. Sept. 6, 1995.

Amended: F. Oct. 11, 1996; eff. Oct. 31, 1996.

Amended: F. Nov. 26, 1996; eff. Dec. 16, 1996.

Amended: F. Dec. 18, 1996; eff. Jan. 7, 1997.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. July 23, 1997; eff. August 12, 1997.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Feb. 9, 1998; eff. Mar. 1, 1998.

Amended: F. Oct. 2, 1998; eff. Oct. 22, 1998.

Amended: F. Nov. 19, 2001; eff. Dec. 9, 2001.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. May 28, 2002; eff. June 17, 2002.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 5, 2002; eff. Aug. 25, 2002.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Mar. 21, 2003; eff. Apr. 10, 2003.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. May 20, 2003; eff. June 9, 2003.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Apr. 29, 2004; eff. May 19, 2004.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 9, 2006; eff. Jan. 29, 2006.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 21, 2007; eff. Sept. 10, 2007.

Amended: F. Apr. 13, 2017; eff. May 3, 2017.

Amended: New title "Pharmaceutical Agents." F. Aug. 9, 2019; eff. Aug. 29, 2019.