Georgia Code
Chapter 30 - Optometrists
§ 43-30-1. Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term:
shall be certified to use pharmaceutical agents for treatment purposes.
Any injectables training program approved by the board pursuant to this subparagraph shall, prior to its approval by the board, be subject to the guidance of the Department of Public Health as to the appropriate curriculum necessary to safeguard the public health of the people of this state.
Doctors of optometry using such 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.
(II) Is under the direct supervision of a physician licensed under Chapter 34 of this title and board certified in ophthalmology.
(II) Used for ocular pain; and
(III) 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
History. Ga. L. 1916, p. 83, § 1; Code 1933, § 84-1101; Ga. L. 1956, p. 94, § 1; Ga. L. 1980, p. 47, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 34, § 1; Ga. L. 1994, p. 853, § 1; Ga. L. 1994, p. 996, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 351, § 1; Ga. L. 2007, p. 551, § 1/SB 17; Ga. L. 2013, p. 639, § 1/HB 235; Ga. L. 2017, p. 680, § 1/SB 153; Ga. L. 2018, p. 251, § 1/SB 382.
The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2017, substituted the present provisions of subparagraph (2)(C) for the former provisions, which read: “A doctor of optometry shall not administer any pharmaceutical agent by injection.”; in the introductory paragraph of subparagraph (2)(D), deleted “and administered orally” following “treatment purposes”, substituted “analgesics, hydrocodone administered orally,” for “analgesics and hydrocodone” in subdivision (2)(D)(i)(I); in division (2)(D)(ii), substituted “Other pharmaceutical” for “Antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids, antifungals, antihistamines, or antiglaucoma” at the beginning, and deleted the proviso at the end, which read: “; provided, however, that a doctor of optometry shall not be authorized to administer pharmaceutical agents by injection”.
The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, added the ending undesignated paragraph of subparagraph (2)(C).
Code Commission notes.
Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2013, “and” was deleted from the end of division (2)(E)(ii).
Law reviews.
For comment on Pearle Optical of Monroeville, Inc. v. Georgia State Bd. of Exmrs., 219 Ga. 364 , 133 S.E.2d 374 (1963); 219 Ga. 856 , 136 S.E.2d 371 (1964), see 16 Mercer L. Rev. 349 (1964).