Scope of Practice

Scope of Practice

Optometry Act, 1991

3. The practice of optometry is the assessment of the eye and vision system and the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of:

• disorders of refraction;
• sensory and oculomotor disorder and dysfunctions of the eye and vision system; and
• prescribed diseases

Authorized Acts

Optometry Act, 1991

4. In the course of engaging in the practice of optometry, a member is authorized, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations imposed on his or her certificate of registration, to perform the following:

1. Communicating a diagnosis identifying, as the cause of a person’s symptoms, a disorder of refraction, a sensory or oculomotor disorder of the eye or vision system or a prescribed disease.
2. Applying a prescribed form of energy.
   1. Prescribing drugs designated in the regulations.
3. Prescribing or dispensing, for vision or eye problems, subnormal vision devices, contact lenses or eye glasses.
   

Prescribed Diseases

For the purposes of clause 3. (c) of the Optometry Act, 1991, the following are prescribed diseases:

1. In relation to diagnosis and prevention, diseases of the eye and vision system that can be determined by the findings from an oculo-visual assessment.
2. In relation to treatment, diseases of the eye and vision system that can be treated by other than the application of surgery.
   

For the purposes of paragraph 1 of section 4 of the Optometry Act, 1991, a “prescribed disease” is any disease limited to an manifested in the eye and vision system that was determined by the findings from an oculo-visual assessment.