Therapeutic Drugs
The Optometry Amendment Act was proclaimed June 12, 2008. Regulations are being drafted. Once approved, Optometrists will be able to offer new efficiencies in primary eye care once they are authorized to administer and prescribe topical drugs to treat eye disease and disorders under the amended Act.
TPAs (prescription medications) are used to treat glaucoma, eye infections, eye inflammation (red eye), eye allergies, and superficial eye injuries.
Doctors of optometry and medicine serve the eye care needs of Manitobans. Optometrists generally see patients first, providing approximately 77% of primary eye care. Ophthalmologists (the medical/surgical specialists) are few in number and most only accept new patients on referral from an optometrist or physician. At this point, when you have an eye infection or other eye problem that requires prescription medication (TPAs), you likely need to see two doctors, even when the first knows what is needed and is qualified to prescribe it. Once the Optometry Amendment Act is made effective, the need to see a second doctor will be eliminated for many eye conditions. Travel for eye appointments will be reduced or eliminated for many rural Manitobans, and wait times for ophthalmologists will likely be reduced.
The Optometry Amendment Act, which was proclaimed on June 12, 2008, authorizes optometrists to prescribe medication to treat eye disease, to order tests, and to remove foreign bodies from the eye. Once the legislation becomes effective, Manitobans will be able to obtain treatment for eye infections, eye inflammation (red eye), eye allergies, superficial eye injuries, and other eye conditions.
The Manitoba Association of Optometrists is working with Manitoba Health and government to create the Regulations under the Optometry Amendment Act. Once approved, the legislation will be made effective and optometrists will be able to prescribe medications, order tests, and remove foreign bodies from the eye.
What happens now:
Proposed efficiencies under The Optometry Amendment Act:
You May Be Interested to Know
Optometrists have the specialized training needed to prescribe drugs for eye disease.
- Drug therapy has been an established part of Optometry curriculum since the 1980s.
Optometrists already have the specialized equipment needed to diagnose eye disease.
- Optometrists have been responsible for diagnosing eye disease since the 1980s; and are required to have all necessary equipment to enable correct diagnosis of vision abnormalities.
Optometrists have a proven track record.
- Manitoba optometrists have been safely using drugs to assist in diagnosing eye disease since 1984. Optometrists in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Québec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, as well as all 50 U.S. States, are authorized to prescribe medications for eye disease.
Medicine and Pharmacy are supportive of the new legislation.
- Both the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba and the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association have indicated support for optometrists to prescribe medications relevant to primary eye disease.
