| License Description |
The practice of Optometry is defined in 73-19-1. The practice of optometry shall include the removal of superficial foreign bodies from the eye or other noninvasive procedures. Nothing in this section or any other provision of law shall be construed to prohibit optometrists who have been certified under Sections 73-19-153 through 73-19-165 from providing postophthalmic surgical or clinical care and management with the advice and consultation of the operating or treating physician. One who is engaged in the practice of optometry as a profession as defined in this subsection and who has sufficient education and professional competence, as defined by the State Board of Optometry, shall be authorized to examine, diagnose, manage and treat conditions and diseases of the eye and eyelid, including the following: (a) The administration and prescribing of pharmaceutical agents rational to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid; excluding administration that requires intraocular injection or intraocular implantation; (b) The performance of primary eye care procedures not otherwise excluded within this statute rational to the treatment of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid; (c) The performance and ordering of procedures and laboratory tests rational to the diagnosis of conditions or diseases of the eye and eyelid; excluding those requiring biopsy of any part of the globe or intraocular aspiration or penetration; (d) The use of a local anesthetic in conjunction with the primary care treatment of an eyelid lesion; provided, however, that no optometrist shall use a local anesthetic for this purpose unless the optometrist has met the certification requirements set forth by the Board of Optometry for the administration of pharmaceutical agents in the performance of primary eye care procedures. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as allowing an optometrist to perform any reconstructive surgical procedure on the eyelid; and (e) An optometrist may utilize local anesthesia by injection in performing the following procedures: (i) Needle drainage of an eyelid abscess, hematoma, bulla and seroma; (ii) Excision of a single epidermal lesion without characteristics of malignancy, no larger than five (5) millimeters in size and no deeper than the dermal layer of the skin; (iii) Incision and curettage of a nonrecurrent chalazion; (iv) Simple repair of an eyelid laceration no larger than two and one-half (2-1/2) centimeters and no deeper than the orbicularis muscle and not involving the eyelid margin or lacrimal drainage structures; or (v) Removal of foreign bodies in the eyelid not involving lid margin, lacrimal drainage structures, and extending no deeper than the orbicularis muscle. (2) Nothing in Chapter 316, Laws of 2021, shall be construed or interpreted to allow any optometrist to treat systemic diseases and/or conditions. (3) Optometrists practicing in this state shall not perform cataract surgery nor any other intraocular surgical procedure not specifically allowed in this statute. (4) Optometrists practicing under the authority of this section shall be held to the same standard of care as that of other physicians providing similar services. No optometrist shall practice under this section unless the optometrist has submitted to the Board of Optometry evidence of satisfactory completion of all education requirements and the board has certified the optometrist as educationally qualified. (5) An optometrist may perform the following if he has been certified by the Board of Optometry to perform optometric laser procedure: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.
The Mississippi State Board of Optometry serves as the licensing and regulatory arm of the optometric profession by formulating rules and regulations that govern and enforce the laws that grant the privilege to practice optometry.
It is required that you have taken and passed all parts, including the TMOD, of the exam administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, to apply for a Mississippi Optometry license.
A completed application must be received 30 days prior to the exam date. An examination fee of $200 for in-state residents and $300 for out-of-state residents should be sent with the application. The State Board Exam is administered the second Saturday of January and July of each year ONLY.
The State Board exam includes the Rules and Regulations and the Mississippi Law. There is also a brief interview before the Board members. The following are requirements for Licensure:
Completed Application, Photograph .,Pre-Optometry Transcript , . Optometry Transcript, National Board Scores, Application Fee ($200.00 In-State; $300.00 Out-of State) . Two Letters of Recommendation, Letters of standing from other Boards (if licensed in another state).
If you plan to become certified to perform Authorized Ophthalmic Surgical Procedures, The fee is $750.00 and the requirements are as follows: completed Application, 32-hour Primary Eyecare Procedures Course, pass a written and the clinical exams, and complete an 8-hour preceptorship.
20 hours of Continuing education are required annually. Licenses are renewed December 31st every year.
Mississippi Code of 1972. |