{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-320.210","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 320.210","heading":"Definitions for chapter.","body":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:\n(1) \"Board\" means the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners;\n(2) \"Practice of optometry\" means:\n(a) The evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, or surgical, nonsurgical, or related\ntreatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the eye and  its\nappendages  and  their impact on the human  body provided by an\noptometrist within the scope of his or her education, training, and\nexperience and  in accordance with this chapter, the ethics of the\nprofession, and applicable law. The practice of optometry includes the\nexamination, diagnosis, and  treatment of the human  eye  and  its\nappendages  to correct and relieve ocular abnormalities and to determine\neye  health, the visual efficiency of the human  eye, or the powers or\ndefects of vision in any authorized manner, including but not limited to:\n1. Prescribing and  adapting lenses, contact lenses, spectacles,\neyeglasses, prisms, ocular devices, and all routes of administration\nof pharmaceutical agents, as authorized by KRS 320.240; or\n2. Employing vision therapy or orthoptics, low vision rehabilitation, and\nlaser surgery procedures, excluding retina, LASIK, and PRK.\nThe  practice of optometry includes the correction and relief of ocular\nabnormalities by surgical procedures not excluded in paragraph (b) of this\nsubsection;\n(b) The  following procedures are excluded from the scope of practice of\noptometry, except for the preoperative and postoperative care of these\nprocedures:\n1. Retina laser procedures, LASIK, and PRK;\n2. Nonlaser surgery related to removal of the eye from a living human\nbeing;\n3. Nonlaser surgery requiring full thickness incision or excision of the\ncornea or sclera other than paracentesis in an emergency situation\nrequiring immediate reduction of the pressure inside the eye;\n4. Penetrating  keratoplasty (corneal  transplant), or  lamellar\nkeratoplasty;\n5. Nonlaser surgery requiring incision of the iris and ciliary body,\nincluding iris diathermy or cryotherapy;\n6. Nonlaser surgery requiring incision of the vitreous;\n7. Nonlaser surgery requiring incision of the retina;\n8. Nonlaser surgical extraction of the crystalline lens;\n9. Nonlaser surgical intraocular implants;\n10. Incisional or excisional nonlaser surgery of the extraocular muscles;\n11. Nonlaser  surgery of the eyelid for eyelid malignancies or for\nincisional cosmetic or mechanical repair of blepharochalasis, ptosis,\nand tarsorrhaphy;\n12. Nonlaser surgery of the bony orbit, including orbital implants;\n13. Incisional or excisional nonlaser surgery of the lacrimal system other\nthan lacrimal probing or related procedures;\n14. Nonlaser surgery requiring full thickness conjunctivoplasty with graft\nor flap;\n15. Any  nonlaser surgical procedure that does not provide for the\ncorrection and relief of ocular abnormalities;\n16. Laser or nonlaser injection into the posterior chamber of the eye to\ntreat any macular or retinal disease; and\n17. The administration of general anesthesia;\n(c) Any person shall be regarded as practicing optometry if he or she:\n1. Performs or advertises to perform optometric operations of any kind,\nincluding diagnosing or treating diseases of the eye or visual system\nor deficiencies of the eye and its appendages, or attempts to correct\nthe vision thereof;\n2. Prescribes, provides, furnishes, adapts, uses, or employs lenses,\nprisms, contact lenses, visual therapy, orthoptics, ocular exercise,\nautofractometry, or any other means or device for the aid, relief, or\ncorrection of the human  eye and its appendages, except upon the\nwritten prescription of a licensed optometrist; or\n3. Uses  the words \"optometrist,\" \"doctor of optometry,\" the letters\n\"O.D,\" or other letters or title in connection with his or her name,\nwhich in any way represents him or her as being engaged in the\npractice of optometry; and\n(d) Low  vision rehabilitation;\n(3) \"Appendages\"  means  the eyelids, the eyebrows, the conjunctiva, and the\nlacrimal apparatus;\n(4) \"Visual aid glasses\" means  eyeglasses, spectacles, or lenses designed or\nused to correct visual defects; provided, however, that nothing in the provisions\nof this chapter relating to the practice of optometry shall be construed to limit or\nrestrict, in any respect, the sale of sunglasses designed and used solely to filter\nout light; and further provided that nothing in this chapter relating to the\npractice of optometry shall be construed to limit or restrict, in any respect, the\nsale of completely assembled eyeglasses or spectacles designed and used\nsolely to magnify;\n(5) \"Orthoptic technician\" means  a person who trains and directs individuals to\nengage in ocular exercises designed to correct visual defects, and shall not be\nrequired to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter if such training and\ndirections are done pursuant to and under the instructions of a duly-licensed\nphysician, osteopath, or optometrist and consists solely of visual training,\northoptics, or ocular exercises; and\n(6) \"Low vision rehabilitation\" means the evaluation, diagnosis, and management\nof the low vision patient, including but not limited to, prescription, low vision\nrehabilitation therapy, education, and  interdisciplinary consultation when\nindicated. Any person who prescribes or provides comprehensive low vision\ncare for the rehabilitation and treatment of the visually impaired or legally blind\npatient; prescribes corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, prisms, or filters;\nemploys any means for the adaptation of lenses, low vision devices, prisms, or\nfilters; evaluates the need for, recommends, or prescribes optical, electronic, or\nother low vision devices; or recommends  or provides low vision rehabilitation\nservices independent of a clinical treatment plan prescribed by an optometrist,\nphysician, or osteopath is engaged in the practice of optometry.","path":["KRS Chapter 320"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=44890","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:16Z","sha256":"35387963e6fc3b5d80fb6ecbf45668b3e21cfbdd31f6edfafb245059fe9056d5","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-320.200","next":"us-ky/krs-320.220"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}