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Ophthalmology influence attributed to Florida bill defeat

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WASHINGTON — The Florida legislature has defeated two bills that would have given further prescribing power to optometrists and required unnecessary eye examinations for newborns, according to a press release issued by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

According to the Florida House of Representatives, H.B. 699 and S.B. 1714 would have allowed optometrists to prescribe and administer drugs approved by the state’s Board of Optometry, thus expanding their scope of practice. The bills would not allow the Board to approve steroids or antifungal agents for oral administration. Currently, optometrists are allowed to prescribe and administer topical ophthalmic agents.

Two other bills, H.B. 115 and S.B. 2174, would have mandated examination of retinoblastoma in newborns and required dilation of the pupil. The examination would have been mandatory prior to discharging the infant from the hospital. The bills died in committee.