1. What's an Optometrist?
- Doctors of Optometry (OD)- Primary care professionals for eye- Examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, eye, and associated structures- Identify related systematic conditions affecting the eye- Optional residency- Some completed graduate programs (MS, MPH, PhD, DrPH)for education, research, and/or administration careers
2. Scope of Practice
- Diagnose vision problems, ocular disease, and systematic conditions with ocular manifestations- Prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and perform certain surgical procedures- Counsel patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, advocations, and lifestyle
3. Charles Prentice
- Father of Optometry- In 1892, Prentice conceives a means to legalize the practice of optometry through the enactment of a statute by the state (New York) legislature
4. American Optometric Association (AOA)
- Began as the American Association of Opticians in 1898- Changed to AOA in 1919- In 2006, AOA held a series of 2020 summit meetings to chart optometry's course over the next 15 years- In 2009, AOA House of Delegates passes the Board Certification process
5. Licensure Timeline
- 1901: Minnesota optometrists secure the passage of the 1st state law regulating the practice of optometry- 1919: Ohio (#34) enacts its optometric practice law- 1924: D.C. becomes last jurisdiction to enact optometry law- 1995: All states accept NBEO test results- 2003: Licensure by endorsement- 2006: NBEO proposes new testing format which better integrates basic and clinical sciences- 2009: AOA H.O.D. passes Board Certification process
6. Academic Timeline
- 1914: Ohio State begins a program in Applied Optics within its Department of Physics; Charles Sheard = Director- 1922: American Academy of Optometry (AAO) is formed- 1931: Optometric Extension Program (OEP) begins- 1937: OSU becomes School of Optometry; Glenn Fry = Director- 1941: Association of Schools and Colelges of Optometry formed (ASCO)- 1942: OSU's first degree in Physiological Optics is awarded to Henry Hofstetter (founding Dean of IU)- 1968: OSU's program becomes a College of Optometry, O.D. degree established; Fred Hebbard = Dean- 1971: Dr. Newcombe receives O.D.- 2004: Dr. Shipp (IU, Harvard, UM) named Dean- 2007: OSU: new research tower, Building the Educational System of Tomorrow (BEST) cirriculum
7. Political Timeline
- 1961: Pennsylvania optometrists introduce bill to authorize use of pharmaceuticals; defeated- 1965: Congress enacts Medicare and Medicaid; optometrists excluded- 1971: Rhode Island enacts 1st Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Act- 1976: West Virginia enacts 1st Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Act- 1981: Congress expands Medicare to enable optometrists to provide care for cataract patients only- 1984: Ohio (#36) passes DPA legislation- 1986: Medicare; expanded to non-cataract patients- 1988: Oklahoma anterior segment laser procedures- 1992: Ohio passes TPA legislation- 1999: All states permit anti-allergy, anti-infective, and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- 2004: 49 states (MA) permit to treat glaucoma, 42 to Rx oral meds, 36 to RX controlled substances, 26 to inject IV drugs
8. Ohio Timeline
- 1919: Ohio (#34) enacts its optometric practice law- 1984: Ohio (#36) passes DPA- 1992: Ohio (#30) passes TPA- 2007: Updated scope of practice: disorders of visual system, removes formulary, includes controlled substances, epipen ok, diabetic finger stick test, 25 hours of CE
9. Charles Sheard
- Director of the Applied Optics program in the Department of Physics in 1914
