Abnormal, harmful, or undesirable effect on an organism that causes anatomical or functional damage, irreversible physical changes, or increases the susceptibility to other biological, chemical, or environmental stresses.
Optometrists can prescribe glasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, vision aids and therapy, and (in some states) oral and topical medications to treat certain eye diseases. Ophthalmologists are doctors of the eye. They have graduated from medical school and are licensed to practice medicine, so their credentials are either doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).
Optometrists already have been able to prescribe âtopicalâ drugs, such as drops and creams, but proposals to expand those powers to oral medications ran into years of opposition from ophthalmologists. Optometrists had to refer patients to ophthalmologists for conditions requiring drugs taken by mouth. Optometrists are not medical doctors and generally do not have the same authority to write prescriptions like ophthalmologists who are medical or osteopathic physicians. The Florida Optometric Association reported that 47 other states allow optometrists to prescribe oral medication to treat eye diseases. In a news release Friday, Ken Lawson, legislative chairman of the Florida Optometric Association, said the bill will help expand access to eye care.