Topical Ocular Pharmaceutical Agents

Florida law authorizes certified optometrists to administer and to prescribe topical ocular pharmaceutical agents for the diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions of the human eye and its appendages. A Florida optometrist who is not a certified optometrist may use topically applied anesthetics solely for the purpose of glaucoma examinations.

The only topical ocular pharmaceutical agents that may be used by Florida certified optometrists are those found on the formulary list maintained by the Florida Board of Optometry. At least 60 days prior to a topical ocular pharmaceutical agent being placed on the formulary list by the Board, the particular topical ocular pharmaceutical agent must be submitted to the Topical Ocular Pharmaceutical Agent (TOPA) Committee. The 60 day notice may not be issued to the TOPA Committee before the United States Food & Drug Administration has released the agent for sale. The TOPA Committee reviews the particular agent and makes a recommendation to the Board whether the particular agent can be used by certified optometrists and if so, any restrictions.

The TOPA Committee is composed of 2 Florida licensed optometrists appointed by the Florida Board of Optometry, 2 Florida board-certified ophthalmologists appointed by the Florida Board of Medicine, Florida law authorizes certified optometrists to administer and to prescribe topical ocular pharmaceutical agents for the diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions of the human eye and its appendages. A Florida optometrist who is not a certified optometrist may use topically applied anesthetics solely for the purpose of glaucoma examinations. The only topical ocular pharmaceutical agents that may be used by Florida certified optometrists are those found on the formulary list maintained by the Florida Board of Optometry. At least 60 days prior to a topical ocular pharmaceutical agent being placed on the formulary list by the Board, the particular topical doctorate degree in pharmacology appointed by the Secretary of the Florida Department of Health.

The Florida Board of Optometry has adopted Rule 64B13-18.002, Florida Administrative Code, which identifies the particular categories of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents that comprise the formulary. Florida certified optometrists are not authorized to administer or prescribe any topical ocular pharmaceutical agent falling within the particular categories listed in Rule 64B13-18.002. The fact that a topical ocular pharmaceutical agent falls into one of the formulary categories does not mean that it has been authorized for use. To the contrary, only those specific topical ocular pharmaceutical agents within each category that have been separately reviewed by the TOPA Committee, approved by the Florida Board of Optometry, and specifically placed on the formulary list may be used by Florida certified optometrists.