Optometrists

Allowable Pharmaceutical Products

Updated List for PACE Providers

January 2005

The State Board of Optometry certifies the following classes of Optometrists.

Providers should examine the Optometrist license number for:

An “L” in the license indicates the optometrist may not utilize drugs.

A “P” in the license indicates the optometrist may utilize diagnostic drugs.

A “T” in the license indicates the optometrist may prescribe and administer pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes.

A “G” in the license indicates the optometrist may also utilize drugs to treat glaucoma.

Optometrists who are properly certified may prescribe and administer the following pharmaceutical products of the A-rated generic therapeutically equivalent drug:

Updated July 2002

(1) Topical anesthetics.

(i) Proparacaine.

(ii) Benoxinate.

(iii) Tetracaine.

(2) Topical ocular lubricants.

(3) Topical ophthalmic dyes and stains.

(i) Fluorescein.

(ii) Rose Bengal.

(iii) Fluorexen.

(4) Topical hyperosmotic agents.

(5) Autonomic drugs – topical only.

(i) Cholinergic agonists.

(A) Pilocarpine nitrate and pilocarpine hydrochloride-diagnostic use only.

(B) Physostigmine.

(C) DFP (diisopropylfluorophosphate).

(D) Echothiopate.

(ii) Cholinergic antagonists.

(A) Homatropine hydrobromide.

(B) Tropicamide.

(C) Atropine sulfate.

(D) Cyclopentolate hydrochloride.

(E) Scopolamine hydrobromide.

(iii) Adrenergic agonists.

(A) Hydroxyamphetamine hydrobromide.

(B) Phenylephrine hydrochloride.

(C) Tetrahydrazoline.

(D) Nefazoline.

(E) Oxymetazoline.

(iv) Adrenergic antagonists – diagnostic use only.

(A) Dapiprazole.

(B) Thymoxamine.

(6) Nonsterodal anti-inflammatory drugs – topical only.

(i) Diclofenac.

(ii) Ketorolac.

(iii) Flurbiprofen.

(iv) Suprofin.

(7) Antimicrobial agents.

(i) Antibacterial – topical use only.

(A) Cell wall inhibitors.

(I) Bacitracin.

(II) Cephalosporins.

(III) Penicillins.

(IV) Vancomycin.

(B) Protein synthesis inhibitors.

(I) Aminoglycosides.

(II) Tetracycline.

(III) Erythromycin.

(IV) Chloramphenicol.

(C) Intermediary metabolism inhibitors.

(I) Sodium sulfacetamide and sulfisoxazole.

(II) Trimethoprim.

(D) DNA synthesis inhibitors.

(I) Ciprofloxacin.

(II) Norfloxacin.

(III) Ofloxacin.

(IV) Levofloxacin.

(E) Cell membrane permeability.

(I) Polymyxin B.

(II) Gramicidin.

(ii) Antibacterial – oral.

(A) Cell wall inhibitors.

(I) Penicillins – including in combination with clavulanic acid.

(II) Cephalosporins.

(-1-) First generation – cephalexin and cefadroxil.

(-2-) Second generation – cefaclor and cefuroxime.

(B) Protein synthesis inhibitors.

(I) Tetracycline.

(II) Doxycycline.

(III) Erythromycin.

(IV) Azithromycin.

(iii) Antivirals – topical only.

(A) Idoxurine.

(B) Vidarabine.

(C) Trifluridine.

(iv) Antivirals – oral.

(A) Acyclovir.

(B) Valacyclovir.

(C) Famciclovir.

(v) Antifungal and antiparasitic – topical only.

(A) Amphotericin B, nystatin, natamycin.

(B) Miconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole.

(C) Thiabendazole.

(D) Neomycin and polymyxin B.

(E) Paromycin.

(8) Analgesic drugs – oral and topical.

(i) Analgesic drugs – oral

(A) Codeine in combination with acetaminophen or aspirin

(B) Hydrocodone.

(C) Pentazocine.

(D) Propoxyphene.

(E) Tramadol.

(ii) Antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers – topical only.

(A) Pheniramine.

(B) Pyrilamine.

(C) Antazoline.

(D) Levocarbastine

(E) Cromolyn.

(F) Nedocromil.

(G) Lodoxamide.

(H) Olopatadine.

(I) Pemirolast potassium.

(J) Emedastine difumarate.

(K) Azelastine hydrochloride.

(L) Ketotifen fumerate.

Additional Drugs Approved by the Department of Health

Approval of Drugs which may be Used by Certain Optometrists

Updated April, 2003

I. Drugs for Approval for Use by all Therapeutically Certified Optometrists

Topical Steroids

prednisolone

medrysone

fluorometholone

hydrocortisone

dexamethasone

rimexolone

loteprednol

triamcinolone

Oral Steroids

prednisone

methylprednisolene

.

II. Drugs for Approval for use by Optometrists Certified to Treat Glaucoma

Beta Adrenergic Receptor Blocking Drugs

Nonselective

timolol

levobunolol

metripranolol

carteolol

Selective

betaxolol

levobetaxlol

Cholinergic Receptor Agonists

Direct Acting

pilocarpine

carbachol

Indirect Acting

physostigmine

demecarium

echothiophate iodide

Adrenergic Receptor Agonists

Nonselective

epinephrine

dipivefrin

Selective Alpha 2 Agonists

apraclonidine

brimonidine

Topical Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

dorzolamide

brinzolamide

Prostaglandin Analogs

eicosanoid derivatives

latanoprost

travoprost

bimatoprost

docosanoid derivatives

unoprostone

Approval of a Drug which may be Used by Certain Optometrists

Updated June, 2003

Topical Antibacterial

Povidone-iodine

Approval of Drugs which may be Used by Certain Optometrists

Updated October, 2003

Topical solutions:

moxifloxacin

gatifloxacin

cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion

Topical solutions and products only, not oral or injectable formulations.

Approval of a Drug which may be Used by Certain Optometrists

Updated May, 2004

Elestat (epinastine HCL ophthalmic solution)