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South Dakota Department of Health
South Dakota Department of Health

Boards

Board of Examiners in Optometry Scope of Practice

36-7-1. Scope of practice.

The practice of optometry is declared to be a profession and is defined as:

  1. The examination of the human eye and its appendages;
  2. The employment of any means for the measurement of the powers of visions, or any visual, muscular, neurological, interpretative, or anatomical anomaly of the visual process;
  3. The prescribing or employment of lenses, prisms, frames, mountings, and visual training procedures;
  4. The prescribing or administration, except by injection unless otherwise permitted by this chapter, of any pharmaceutical agent rational to the diagnosis and treatment of the human eye and its appendages;
  5. The employment of any means or method for the correction, remedy, or relief of any insufficiency or abnormal condition of the visual process of the human eye and its appendages, provided the term "any means or method" does not include surgeries unless otherwise permitted by this chapter;
  6. The removal of a superficial foreign body from the eye;
  7. The prescribing of contact lenses, except by a physician licensed under chapter 36-4;
  8. The use of intense pulsed light for the treatment of dry eye disease; and
  9. Subject to the requirements set forth in § 36-7-1.4:
    1. The intradermal injection of a paralytic agent;
    2. The intralesional injection of a steroid to treat a chalazion;
    3. The use of a local anesthetic in conjunction with the primary removal of a pedunculated skin tag;
    4. The performance of a selective laser trabeculoplasty; and
    5. The performance of a posterior capsulotomy using a yttrium aluminum garnet laser.

Any procedure referenced in this section, when performed by a licensed optometrist, in accordance with this chapter, does not constitute the practice of medicine, for purposes of chapter 36-4.

Scope of Practice Framework Declaratory Ruling Process Declaratory Rulings

36-7-1.4. Expanded scope of practice - Prerequisites.

Before an optometrist may perform any one or more of the procedures set forth in subdivision 36-7-1(9), the optometrist must provide to the board, at the time and in the manner directed by the board, verifiable evidence that:

  1. The optometrist:
    1. Received a passing score on the laser examination and on the surgical procedures examination, offered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry; or
    2. Graduated, prior to July 1, 2024, from an optometric school or college approved by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education or from an optometric school or college approved by the board;
  2. The optometrist satisfactorily completed a course that:
    1. Is at least thirty-two hours in duration;
    2. Is approved by the board;
    3. Includes content related to each procedure set forth in subdivision 36-7-1(9); and
    4. Is proctored by an ophthalmologist or is proctored by an optometrist who is authorized to perform all of the procedures set forth in subdivision 36-7-1(9) by the optometric licensing board of a state in which a qualified optometrist may perform all of the procedures; and
  3. The optometrist has demonstrated competency in accordance with the performance criteria set forth in § 36-7-1.5.

The board shall review the evidence required by this section and upon verification of an optometrist's compliance with the requirements, authorize the optometrist to perform one or more of the procedures set forth in subdivision 36-7-1(9). The board shall develop and implement a system for documenting any actions under this section.

36-7-1.5. Expanded scope of practice - Competency demonstration.

The demonstration of competency required in accordance with subdivision 36-7-1.4(3), must occur in the presence and under the direct supervision of an ophthalmologist licensed in this state, or in the presence and under the direct supervision of an optometrist licensed in this state and authorized by the board, pursuant to § 36-7-1.4, to perform all of the procedures set forth in subdivision 36-7-1(9).

The demonstration of competency with respect to the intradermal injection of a paralytic agent, the intralesional injection of a steroid to treat a chalazion, the use of a local anesthetic in conjunction with the primary removal of a pedunculated skin tag, and the performance of a selective laser trabeculoplasty, must each occur on at least five human eyes.

The demonstration of competency with respect to the performance of a posterior capsulotomy using an yttrium aluminum garnet laser must occur on at least ten human eyes.

The supervising ophthalmologist or optometrist shall notify the board when competency has been demonstrated, in accordance with this section. The notification must occur at the time and in the manner determined by the board.