Bill > HB929

This bill expands the legal scope of optometry practice in Missouri by allowing optometrists to use injectable agents and perform certain surgical procedures. Specifically, the bill modifies existing law to explicitly include surgical and nonsurgical treatments of the eye, with a new provision allowing optometrists to correct and relieve ocular abnormalities through surgical procedures. The bill provides a comprehensive list of what is now included in optometry practice, such as eye examinations, diagnostic procedures, prescribing pharmaceutical agents, and removing superficial foreign bodies. Importantly, the bill also clearly defines a set of surgical procedures that remain excluded from optometry practice, including complex eye surgeries like retina laser procedures, corneal transplants, and surgeries involving the iris, vitreous, and retina. The bill also updates definitions of key terms like "pharmaceutical agents" and "vision therapy" and removes previous language that prohibited the use of injectable agents. This legislation aims to broaden the capabilities of optometrists while still maintaining certain surgical restrictions to ensure patient safety.

Labor and Employment

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB929&year=2025&code=R