H.B. 39 Enrolled

1

AMENDMENT TO UTAH OPTOMETRY PRACTICE ACT
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan
5 Senate Sponsor: John L. Valentine
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the Utah Optometry Practice Act to permit certain people in limited
10 circumstances to sell ophthalmic lenses without being licensed under the chapter.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . allows a person in certain circumstances to sell, fit, adjust, and dispense ophthalmic
14 lenses without being licensed under the chapter;
15 . requires a prescription for an ophthalmic lens;
16 . authorizes an optometrist or physician to designate the expiration date for an
17 ophthalmic lens prescription;
18 . defines an unexpired prescription; and
19 . specifies the activities that the unlicensed person may engage in regarding the sale
20 or dispensing of ophthalmic lenses.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 AMENDS:
27 58-16a-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapters 48 and 280
28 58-16a-305, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 160
29 58-16a-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 71

30 58-16a-801, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 48
31
32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 58-16a-102 is amended to read:
34 58-16a-102. Definitions.
35 In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
36 (1) "Board" means the Optometrist Licensing Board created in Section 58-16a-201 .
37 (2) "Contact lens" means any lens that:
38 (a) has a spherical, cylindrical, or prismatic power or curvature;
39 (b) is made pursuant to a current prescription; [or] and
40 (c) is intended to be worn on the surface of the eye.
41 (3) (a) "Contact lens prescription" means a written or verbal order for contact lenses
42 that includes:
43 (i) the commencement date of the prescription;
44 (ii) the base curve, power, diameter, material or brand name, and expiration date;
45 (iii) for a written order, the signature of the prescribing optometrist or physician; and
46 (iv) for a verbal order, a record maintained by the recipient of:
47 (A) the name of the prescribing optometrist or physician; and
48 (B) the date when the prescription was issued or ordered.
49 (b) A prescription may include:
50 (i) a limit on the quantity of lenses that may be ordered under the prescription if
51 required for medical reasons documented in the patient's files; and
52 (ii) the expiration date of the prescription, which shall be two years from the
53 commencement date, unless documented medical reasons require otherwise.
54 (c) When a provider prescribes a private label contact lens for a patient the prescription
55 shall include:
56 (i) the name of the manufacturer;
57 (ii) the trade name of the private label brand; and

58 (iii) if applicable, the trade name of the equivalent national brand.
59 (4) "Contact lens prescription verification" means a written request from a person who
60 sells or provides contact lenses that:
61 (a) is sent to the prescribing optometrist or physician; and
62 (b) seeks the confirmation of the accuracy of a patient's prescription.
63 (5) "Eye and its adnexa" means the human eye and all structures situated within the
64 orbit, including the conjunctiva, lids, lashes, and lacrimal system.
65 (6) "Fitting of a contact lens" means:
66 (a) the using of a keratometer to measure the human eye;
67 (b) utilizing refractive data provided by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist; and
68 (c) trial fitting of contact lenses, which includes a period of time for evaluation for fit
69 and performance, to determine a tentative contact lens prescription for a patient if the patient:
70 (i) has not worn contact lenses before; or
71 (ii) has changed to a different type or base curve.
72 (7) "Laser surgery" means surgery in which human tissue is cut, burned, or vaporized
73 by means of laser or ionizing radiation.
74 (8) "Ophthalmic lens" means any lens used to treat the eye and that:
75 (a) has a spherical, cylindrical, or prismatic power;
76 (b) is made pursuant to an unexpired prescription; and
77 (c) is intended to be used in eyeglasses or spectacles.
78 (9) "Optometric assistant" means an unlicensed individual:
79 (a) working under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed optometrist; and
80 (b) engaged in specific tasks assigned by the licensed optometrist in accordance with
81 the standards and ethics of the profession.
82 (10) "Optometrist" or "optometric physician" means an individual licensed under this
83 chapter.
84 (11) "Optometry" and "practice of optometry" mean any one or any combination of the
85 following practices:

86 (a) examination of the human eye and its adnexa to detect and diagnose defects or
87 abnormal conditions;
88 (b) determination or modification of the accommodative or refractive state of the
89 human eye or its range or power of vision by administration and prescription of pharmaceutical
90 agents or the use of diagnostic instruments;
91 (c) prescription, ordering, administration, or adaptation of ophthalmic lenses, contact
92 lenses, ophthalmic devices, pharmaceutical agents, laboratory tests, or ocular exercises to
93 diagnose and treat diseases, defects, or other abnormal conditions of the human eye and its
94 adnexa;
95 (d) display of any advertisement, circular, sign, or device offering to:
96 (i) examine the eyes;
97 (ii) fit glasses or contact lenses; or
98 (iii) adjust frames;
99 (e) removal of a foreign body from the eye or its adnexa, that is not deeper than the
100 anterior 1/2 of the cornea;
101 (f) consultation regarding the eye and its adnexa with other appropriate health care
102 providers, including referral to other appropriate health care providers; and
103 (g) a person, not licensed as an optometrist, directing a licensee under this chapter to
104 withhold or alter the eye care services the licensee has ordered.
105 (12) "Pharmaceutical agent" means any diagnostic or therapeutic drug or combination
106 of drugs that has the property of assisting in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or mitigation
107 of abnormal conditions or symptoms of the eye and its adnexa.
108 (13) "Physician" has the same meaning as defined in Subsection 58-67-102 (7).
109 (14) "Prescription drug" has the same definition as in Section 58-17b-102 .
110 (15) "Unexpired" means a prescription that was issued:
111 [(a) not more than two years prior to presentation of the prescription for an ophthalmic
112 lens; or]
113 (a) for ophthalmic lenses which does not expire unless the optometrist or physician

114 includes an expiration date on the prescription based on medical reasons that are documented
115 in the patient's file; and
116 (b) in accordance with Subsection (3) for a contact lens.
117 Section 2. Section 58-16a-305 is amended to read:
118 58-16a-305. License -- Exemptions.
119 In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307 , the following persons
120 may engage in acts included in the definition of the practice of optometry subject to the stated
121 circumstances and limitations without being licensed under this chapter:
122 (1) a person who sells contact lenses on prescription provided by a person authorized
123 under state law to practice either optometry or medicine and surgery if the person complies
124 with Section 58-16a-801 ;
125 (2) a person who sells eyeglasses or spectacles as articles of merchandise or who
126 fabricates them from a prescription if the person complies with Subsection 58-16a-801 (2), and
127 if the person:
128 (a) does so in the ordinary course of trade from a permanently located and established
129 place of business;
130 (b) does not traffic or attempt to traffic upon assumed skill in testing the eye and
131 adapting lenses according to the test;
132 (c) does not duplicate, replace, or accept for replacement any ophthalmic lens, except
133 in the case of an emergency;
134 (d) does not use in the testing of the eyes any lenses or instruments other than the
135 lenses actually sold; and
136 (e) does not give or offer eyeglasses or spectacles as premiums as defined in Section
137 13-26-2 ; and
138 (3) a person who fits contact lenses under the following conditions:
139 (a) he has a current certification from both the American Board of Opticianry and the
140 National Contact Lens Examiners;
141 (b) he does not give or offer contact lenses as premiums;

142 (c) he does not perform a refraction, over-refraction, or attempt to traffic upon assumed
143 skill in testing the eye;
144 (d) he operates in the ordinary course of trade from a permanently located and
145 established place of business;
146 (e) he performs the work involved in fitting contact lenses himself and does not
147 delegate the contact lens fitting to any other individual who is not qualified under this
148 Subsection (3);
149 (f) he does not use in the testing of the eye any lenses or instruments other than the
150 lenses he actually will sell;
151 (g) he provides services only to a patient who:
152 (i) presents an unexpired contact lens prescription; or
153 (ii) has had an eye examination within the prior six months by an optometrist or
154 ophthalmologist meeting the requirements under Section 58-16a-306 ;
155 (h) he maintains a copy of the patient's contact lens prescription for not less than seven
156 years;
157 (i) he enters into a written agreement with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist before
158 July 1, 2000, to fit contact lenses prescribed by that optometrist or ophthalmologist;
159 (j) he fits contact lenses for at least two years under the direct supervision of the
160 optometrist or ophthalmologist identified in Subsection (3)(i) before July 1, 2000, as
161 documented in the written agreement; and
162 (k) the optometrist or ophthalmologist described in Subsection (3)(i):
163 (i) ensures that the final contact lens is accurate;
164 (ii) presents a written copy of the prescription to the person fitting the contact lens; and
165 (iii) ensures that a copy of the prescription is provided to the patient, except as
166 provided in Section 58-16a-306 .
167 Section 3. Section 58-16a-501 is amended to read:
168 58-16a-501. Unlawful conduct.
169 "Unlawful conduct" includes, in addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501 :

170 (1) buying, selling, or fraudulently obtaining, any optometry diploma, license,
171 certificate, or registration;
172 (2) aiding or abetting the buying, selling, or fraudulently obtaining, of any optometry
173 diploma, license, certificate, or registration;
174 (3) selling or providing contact lenses or ophthalmic lenses in a manner inconsistent
175 with Section 58-16a-801 or intentionally altering a prescription unless the person selling or
176 providing the lenses is a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist; or
177 (4) representing oneself as or using the title of "optometrist," "optometric physician,"
178 "doctor of optometry," or "O.D.," unless currently licensed under this chapter.
179 Section 4. Section 58-16a-801 is amended to read:
180 Part 8. Contact Lenses and Ophthalmic Lenses
181 58-16a-801. Contact lens and ophthalmic lens seller or provider.
182 (1) A person may sell or provide contact lenses if the person:
183 (a) does so in the ordinary course of trade from a permanently located and established
184 place of business;
185 (b) does not perform refractions, over-refractions, or attempts to traffic upon assumed
186 skill in testing the eye;
187 (c) provides all contact lenses consistent with and in accordance with a valid contact
188 lens prescription;
189 (d) does not fit contact lenses;
190 (e) provides a contact lens to a patient after:
191 (i) receiving an unexpired verbal or written prescription; or
192 (ii) sending a contact lens prescription verification to the prescribing optometrist or
193 physician, regardless of whether the prescribing optometrist or physician responds to or
194 confirms the verification, provided that:
195 (A) the person has all of the information necessary to fill the prescription;
196 (B) the prescribing optometrist or physician has not informed the person that the
197 prescription has expired or is otherwise inaccurate prior to the person shipping or

198 hand-delivering the contact lens to the patient;
199 (C) the person confirms a valid, unexpired contact lens prescription for the patient if
200 the person is aware that the patient provided inaccurate prescription information in his last
201 order; and
202 (D) the person informs the patient that the prescription has expired or that there is a
203 medical problem associated with the prescription if the information is communicated by the
204 prescribing optometrist or physician to the person within 72 hours of the contact lens
205 prescription verification being sent; and
206 (f) maintains patient information, including the method and date of any prescription
207 verification, for no less than seven years.
208 (2) (a) A person may engage in the activities described in Subsection (2)(b), without a
209 license under this title, if the person:
210 (i) provides the ophthalmic lenses consistent with and in accordance with a
211 prescription from a licensed physician or optometrist that is unexpired as provided in
212 Subsection 58-16a-102 (8)(b);
213 (ii) dispenses the ophthalmic lenses within or from the state;
214 (iii) does so in the ordinary course of trade from a permanently located and established
215 place of business;
216 (iv) does not perform refractions, over-refractions, or attempt to traffic upon assumed
217 skill in licensed physician or optometrist testing of the eye; and
218 (v) complies with impact tolerance standards based on ANSI Z80.1-2010, American
219 National Standard for Ophthalmics - Prescription Lenses.
220 (b) In accordance with Subsection (2)(a), a person may:
221 (i) sell, reproduce, or dispense ophthalmic lenses;
222 (ii) fit or adjust ophthalmic lenses or frames;
223 (iii) assist with the selection of frames for ophthalmic lenses;
224 (iv) measure pupillary distance and interpret pupillary distance measurements; or
225 (v) measure or interpret the reading segment height in bifocal, tri-focal, progressive, or

226 multi-focal lenses.
227 [(2)] (3) Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring a person to be licensed
228 or certified in any way under this or any another chapter of this title to sell contact lenses in
229 accordance with Subsection (1), or to sell ophthalmic lenses in accordance with Subsection (2).