Section 216-RICR-40-05-20.3 - DefinitionsA. Wherever used in this Part, the following terms shall be construed to mean:1. "Act" means R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-35.1, entitled "Optometrists."2. "Amplified optometrist" means an optometrist licensed in this state to practice optometry and authorized by the Board to administer and prescribe pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of conditions of the human eye and its appendages, including anterior uveitis and glaucoma, without surgery or other invasive techniques, and in accordance with the Act and the requirements herein.3. "Board" means the Board of Optometry established under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-35.1-13.4. "Certified optometrist" means an optometrist licensed in this state to practice optometry and authorized by the Board to administer and prescribe topical ocular pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of ocular conditions of the anterior segment of the human eye and its appendages, (with the exception of uveitis and glaucoma) without surgery or other invasive techniques, and in accordance with the requirements of the Act and this Part.5. "Department" means the Rhode Island Department of Health.6. "Director" means the Director, Rhode Island Department of Health.7. "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.8. "Electronic transmission prescription" means any prescription, other than an oral or written prescription, that is electronically transmitted from an optometrist authorized to prescribe to a pharmacy without alteration by a third party unless authorized by the optometrist or from one pharmacy to another pharmacy.9. "Facsimile (FAX) prescription" means a written prescription or order that is transmitted by an electronic device that sends the exact image to the receiver (pharmacy) in a hard copy form.10. "Optometrist" means an individual licensed in this state to practice optometry pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-35.1 and this Part.11. "Optometry" means the profession whose practitioners are engaged in the art and science of the evaluation of vision and the examination of vision and the examination and refraction of the human eye which includes: the employment of any objective or subjective means for the examination of the human eye or its appendages; the measurement of the powers or range of human vision or the determination of the accommodative and refractive powers of the human eye or the scope of its functions in general and the adaptation of lenses, prisms, and/or frames for the aid thereof; the prescribing, directing the use of or administering ocular exercises, visual training, vision training, or orthoptics, and the use of any optical device in connection with these; the prescribing of contact lenses for, or the fitting or adaptation of contact lenses to the human eye; the examination or diagnosis of the human eye to ascertain the presence of abnormal conditions or functions; and the application of pharmaceutical agents to the eye. Provided, however, that no optometrist licensed in this state shall perform any surgery for the purpose of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye. With respect to presently licensed optometrists, only presently licensed optometrists who:a. Have satisfactorily completed a course in pharmacology, as it applies to optometry, at an institution accredited by a regional, professional, or academic accreditation organization which is recognized by a national commission on accreditation, such as the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), with particular emphasis on the application of drugs to the eye for the purposes of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye; or the effects of any disease or pathological condition of the eye, approved by the Board of Optometry and the Department; orb. Have successfully passed all sections of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examination; and the treatment and management of ocular disease (TMOD) examination shall be permitted to apply pharmaceutical agents to the eye for the purpose of detecting any diseased or pathological condition of the eye, or the effects of any disease or pathological condition of the eye.12. "Pharmaceutical agents" means any medications as determined by the Department, except those specified in schedules I and II as provided in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 21-28.13. "Vision training", as referenced in the definition of optometry in § 20.3(A)(11) of this Part, includes:a. "Vision therapy" means the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of treatment for conditions of the visual system or management of a patient with vision therapy, visual training, visual rehabilitation, orthopics or eye exercises. Anyone who holds him/herself out as being able to do so for the rehabilitation and/or treatment of physical, physiological, sensorimotor, neuromuscular or perceptual anomalies of the eyes or vision system or who prescribes or utilizes lenses, prisms, filters, occlusion, or other devices for the enhancement, rehabilitation and/or treatment of the visual system or prevention of visual dysfunctions, except under the supervision and management of a licensed optometrist, is engaged in the practice of optometry.b. "Low vision rehabilitation" means the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the low vision patient, including but not limited to, prescription, low vision rehabilitation therapy, education and interdisciplinary consultation when indicated. Any person who prescribes or provides comprehensive low vision care for the rehabilitation and/or treatment of the visually impaired or legally blind patient, prescribes corrective spectacles, contact lenses, prisms, or filters, employs any means for the adaptation of lenses, low vision devices, prisms, filters, evaluates the need for, recommends, or prescribes optical, electronic or other low vision devices; or recommends or provides low vision rehabilitation services independent of a clinical treatment plan prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist shall be considered to be engaged in the practice of optometry.216 R.I. Code R. § 216-RICR-40-05-20.3