COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS
RECOMMENDING CHANGES
TO DRUG REGULATIONS
By Denis Langlois
Ontario's college of optometrists wants
Certain safeguards are recommended,
its members to have the freedom to pre-
such as requiring optometrists to im-
scribe to their patients any ophthalmic
mediately refer patients to a physician
drug approved by Health Canada.
or hospital once they are prescribed
The self-regulatory authority is propos-
certain categories of oral drugs.
ing amendments to the Optometry Act
Wilkinson said the college often hears
that it says would knock down a barrier
from its members about how the current
that prevents optometrists from access-
drug list inconveniences their patients
ing newer drugs, which can often be the
or limits the care they can receive.
best treatment option for patients.
As an example, the anti-glaucoma drug
“If the new proposal is passed, patients
Azarga was approved by Health Canada
will have access to the most up-to-date
in 2009; too late for it to be recommend-
therapies without the need for regula-
ed for the original list, Wilkinson said.
tion change,” said David Wilkinson,
The drug is a combination of brinzola-
practice advisor for the College of
mide and timolol, which are both
Optometrists of Ontario.
included separately on the list.
Since 2011, optometrists have been
“Right now, if an optometrist concludes
authorized to prescribe certain drugs
that a patient with primary open-angle
for treating eye and vision system
glaucoma can benefit from this combi-
conditions in their patients.
nation therapy, he/she must make a
Those drugs are listed in Schedule 1 of
decision. Either prescribe both drugs
the Optometry Act's designated drugs
and standards of practice regulation.
Wilkinson said the list has not been
amended since it came into effect five
years ago. The college says its experience has demonstrated that such lists
separately (two separate drops for the
patient), or refer the patient to an ophthalmologist, who can then prescribe
Azarga (one drop for the patient).
In general, there are convenience and
compliance advantages when fewer
in regulations are difficult to revise.
drops are required,” Wilkinson said.
The college is proposing to amend the
“There are numerous other examples
regulation by scrapping the list and instead giving optometrists the authority
where the best therapy for a condition
may no longer be a drug that is on the
to prescribe all oral and topical drugs
current list.”
within the scope of practice of optometry.
The college says its recommended
“This (would) expand the range of
amendment would bring Ontario in
treatment options available to patients,
some of whom might benefit from older
drugs and some from newer. What we’re
aiming for is the best treatment
possible,” Wilkinson said.
30 Optical Prism | April 2016
line with recent changes in Alberta
and Saskatchewan and most American
states. The college had requested
feedback on its proposal by March 28.
Wilkinson said it will now review all
comments received.
The committee responsible for the proposal will then ask the college council to
either amend the recommendation and
re-circulate it to members and stakeholders or submit the current proposal
to the Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care to seek their approval.
Wilkinson said the college expects it
will submit its final proposal later this
year.
Along with the recommended change
to the drug list regulation, the college is
also proposing to amend the Optometry
Act to allow optometrists to remove superficial foreign bodies from a patient's
cornea and to dispense drugs for the
sole purpose of trialling a therapy.
The college also wants the act amended
to specify diagnostic ultrasound as a
prescribed form of energy for the
performance of corneal pachymetry
or ocular ultrasonography, only.
More information on the college's
proposals can be found online at
www.collegeoptom.on.ca.