N.M. Code R. § 16.16.19.9 – Contact Lens Examination and Follow-up Fitting Required

A. No optometrist will prescribe contact lenses for a patient unless he/she has personally examined and fitted the contact lenses to the eyes of the patient at the optometrist’s place of practice.
B. A replacement contact lens prescription is deemed to be determined after a refraction, eye health examination, diagnostic contact lens fitting, instruction on care/maintenance procedures, and appropriate follow-up care (16.16.19.7.B NMAC) have been performed.
C. [RESERVED]
D. No optometrist may write a replacement contact lens prescription until the procedures in Subsections A and B of this rule have been performed (see 16.16.19.9 NMAC).
E. No optometrist may write a contact lens prescription for a patient whose eye health would be compromised through wearing contact lenses.
F. If, in the professional opinion of the optometrist, a patient is not adhering to an appropriate regimen of care and follow-up with regard to the use of contact lenses, the optometrist may terminate his/her care of that patient. The optometrist shall notify the patient in writing that the optometrist is terminating care and shall state his/her reason for doing so.
[6-24-94; 10-14-95; 16.16.19.9 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 16.19.9, 03-15-2001; A, 6-08-01; A, 03-15-2004]