N.J. Admin. Code § 13:38-2.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:38-2.1 - Minimum examination; record of conditions

(a) Prior to prescribing eyeglasses or contact lenses for a patient, the licensee shall perform the following procedures and shall duly record the findings:

1. Complete history;

2. Entrance visual acuity findings;

3. Complete examination of the external eye and adnexae;

4. Complete examination of the internal parts of the eye;

5. Corneal measurements taken at the time of the original examination and as subsequently needed in the professional judgment of the optometrist;

6. Objective refractive findings;

7. Subjective refractive findings and acuities;

8. Evaluation of ocular motility and status of binocularity;

9. Color vision testing at the time of the original examination and as subsequently needed in the professional judgment of the optometrist;

10. Visual fields screening on all patients unless contraindicated in the professional judgment of the optometrist or by lack of the patient's cooperation;

11. Tonometry on all patients unless contraindicated in the professional judgment of the optometrist or by lack of the patient's cooperation; and

12. Complete examination of the anterior segment of the eye using a biomicroscope (slit-lamp) or other equipment with equivalent technological capabilities.

(b) Procedures (a)3, 4, 7 and 12 above shall be performed only by the optometrist.

(c) Where any form of contact tonometry is used in procedure (a)11 above, only the optometrist shall perform the procedure.

(d) The optometrist may delegate the performance of procedures (a)5 and 6 above only when automated electronic devices are used.

(e) The accuracy of the findings for all of the procedures in (a) above shall be the exclusive responsibility of the examining optometrist(s).

(f) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit vision screening under the direct supervision of an optometrist for the purpose of determining the advisability of a complete optometric examination. For purposes of this section, "direct supervision" means the continuous physical presence of the optometrist who is in a supervisory status at the office location and who is available on-site for consultation, guidance and instruction during the performance of any delegable procedures conducted by ancillary personnel.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:38-2.1

Amended by R.1983 d.511, effective 11/7/1983.
See: 15 N.J.R. 1234(a), 15 N.J.R. 1866(b).
Deleted old text and added new text.
Amended by R.1985 d.60, effective 2/19/1985.
See: 16 N.J.R. 3289(a), 17 N.J.R. 467(a).
(b) added.
Amended by R.1989 d.252, effective 5/15/1989.
See: 20 N.J.R. 2361(b), 21 N.J.R. 1366(b).
In (b), added "7" to section (a) procedures references.
Petitions for Rulemaking.
See: 26 N.J.R. 2812(c); 27 N.J.R. 773(a).
Amended by R.1995 d.524, effective 9/18/1995.
See: 27 N.J.R. 2092(a), 27 N.J.R. 3617(a).
Amended by R.1999 d.143, effective 5/3/1999.
See: 30 N.J.R. 1193(a), 31 N.J.R. 1201(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2012 d.077, effective 4/16/2012.
See: 43 N.J.R. 822(a), 44 N.J.R. 1272(a).
In (f), deleted a comma following "guidance" and inserted "conducted".