NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Approval of Drugs which may be Used by Certain Optometrists

[33 Pa.B. 1785]

   Under the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act (act) (63 P. S. §§ 244.1--244.12), and specifically as that act was amended by the act of December 16, 2002 (P. L. 1950, No. 225) (Act 225), the Secretary of Health (Secretary) has the authority to approve drugs for use in the practice of optometry as the ''practice of optometry'' is defined in Act 225. The State Board of Optometry, through the Secretary of State, provided the Secretary a list of drugs on January 8, 2003, and requested that the Secretary approve the use of those drugs. Act 225 requires that the Secretary, within 90 days of the receipt of the list of drugs, and in consultation with the Physician General, approve or disapprove for good cause each drug. The Secretary has found good cause to approve the use of the following drugs in the practice of optometry:

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

   Commercially available combinations of drugs approved for use by optometrists.

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

Beta Adrenergic Receptor Blocking Drugs

Nonselective

timolol
levobunolol
metripranolol
carteolol

Selective

betaxolol
levobetaxolol

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

   Commercially available combinations of drugs approved for use by optometrists.

   The approval of the use of these drugs is effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

   Questions should be directed to John Hair, Director, Bureau of Community Program Licensure and Certification, 132 Kline Plaza, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA, 17104, (717) 783-8665.

   Persons with a disability who require an alternative format of this document (for example, large print, audiotape or Braille) should contact John Hair at the number or address previously listed or for speech and/or hearing impaired persons, V/TT (717) 783-6514 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Services at (800) 654-5984.

ROBERT S. MUSCALUS, D.O.,   
Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-632. Filed for public inspection April 4, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]

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