N.Y. Education Law § 7101: Definition of the practice of optometry

§ 7101. Definition of the practice of optometry. The practice of the

profession of optometry is defined as diagnosing and treating optical

deficiency, optical deformity, visual anomaly, muscular anomaly or

disease of the human eye and adjacent tissue by prescribing, providing,

adapting or fitting lenses or by prescribing, providing, adapting or

fitting non-corrective contact lenses, or by prescribing or providing

orthoptics or vision training, or by prescribing and using drugs. The

practice of optometry shall not include any injection or invasive

modality. For purposes of this section invasive modality means any

procedure in which human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise

infiltrated by mechanical or other means. Invasive modality includes

surgery, lasers, ionizing radiation, therapeutic ultrasound and the

removal of foreign bodies from within the tissue of the eye. Nothing in

this section or section seventy-one hundred one-a of this article shall

be construed to limit the scope of optometric practice as authorized

prior to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-five. The use of drugs

by optometrists is authorized only in accordance with the provisions of

this article and regulations promulgated by the commissioner.