225 ILCS 80/15.1

(225 ILCS 80/15.1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 15.1. Diagnostic and therapeutic authority.

(a) For purposes of the Act, "ocular pharmaceutical agents" means topical anesthetics, topical mydriatics, topical cycloplegics, topical miotics and mydriatic reversing agents, anti-infective agents, anti-allergy agents, anti-glaucoma agents (except oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, which may be prescribed only in a quantity sufficient to provide treatment for up to 30 days), anti-inflammatory agents (except oral steroids, which may be prescribed only in a quantity sufficient to provide treatment for up to 7 days), over-the-counter agents, analgesic agents, anti-dry eye agents, and agents for the treatment of hypotrichosis.

(a-3) In addition to ocular pharmaceutical agents that fall within the categories set forth in subsection (a) of this Section, the Board may add a pharmaceutical agent approved by the FDA or class of agents for the purpose of the diagnosis or treatment of conditions of the eye and adnexa after consideration of the agent's systemic effects, side effects, and the use of the agent within the practice of optometry. The Board shall consider requests for additional agents and make recommendations within 90 days after the receipt of the request.

Within 45 days after the Board's recommendation to the Department of a pharmaceutical agent or class of agents, the Department shall promulgate rules necessary to allow for the prescribing or administering of the pharmaceutical agent or class of agents under this Act.

(a-5) Ocular pharmaceutical agents administered by injection may be used only for the treatment of anaphylaxis.

(a-10) Oral pharmaceutical agents may be prescribed for a child under 5 years of age only in consultation with a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches.

(a-15) The authority to prescribe a Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance shall include analgesic agents only in a quantity sufficient to provide treatment for up to 72 hours. The prescription of a Schedule II controlled substance is prohibited, except for Dihydrocodeinone (Hydrocodone) with one or more active, non-narcotic ingredients only in a quantity sufficient to provide treatment for up to 72 hours, and only if such formulations of Dihydrocodeinone are reclassified as Schedule II by federal regulation.

(b) A licensed optometrist may remove superficial foreign bodies from the human eye and adnexa and may give orders for patient care to a nurse or other health care provider licensed to practice under Illinois law.

(c) An optometrist's license shall be revoked or suspended by the Department upon recommendation of the Board based upon either of the following causes:

(1) grave or repeated misuse of any ocular pharmaceutical agent; and

(2) the use of any agent or procedure in the course of optometric practice by an optometrist not properly authorized under this Act.

(d) The Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation shall notify the Director of Public Health as to the categories of ocular pharmaceutical agents permitted for use by an optometrist. The Director of Public Health shall in turn notify every licensed pharmacist in the State of the categories of ocular pharmaceutical agents that can be utilized and prescribed by an optometrist.

(Source: P.A. 98-1111, eff. 8-26-14; 99-909, eff. 1-1-17.)