Prior to HB 719, when an optometrist discovered that their patient needed prescription eye drops, the patient was required to leave the therapeutically certified optometrist's office and arrange a separate visit with an ophthalmologist, often much farther away.
This meant more inconvenience to the patient
as well as more expense.
HB 719 authorizes therapeutically certified optometrists
to provide the patient with the needed prescriptions
under specified circumstances.
If the condition does not improve within 72 hours,
the optometrist immediately consults
with an ophthalmologist.
