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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81567</law_id><section_number>54.1-3221</section_number><catch_line>&amp;#8220;Diagnostic pharmaceutical agents&amp;#8221; defined; utilization; acquisition</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-3301</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="32">Optometry</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Certification for Administration of Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> <span class="dictionary">Optometrists</span> certified to administer <span class="dictionary">diagnostic pharmaceutical agents</span> or <span class="dictionary">optometrists</span> licensed after June 30, 1997, may administer <span class="dictionary">diagnostic pharmaceutical agents</span> only by topical application to the human eye. For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">diagnostic pharmaceutical agents</span>&#x201D; means Schedule VI controlled substances as set forth in the Drug Control Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Citation" href="/54.1-3400/">54.1-3400</a> et seq.) that are used for the purpose of examining and determining abnormal or diseased conditions of the human eye or related structures. <a id="paragraph-292134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3221/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">optometrist</span> who utilizes <span class="dictionary">diagnostic pharmaceutical agents</span> without being certified to administer <span class="dictionary">diagnostic pharmaceutical agents</span> or licensed after June 30, 1997, shall be subject to the disciplinary <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span> provided in this chapter. <a id="paragraph-292135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3221/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Licensed drug suppliers or pharmacists are authorized to supply <span class="dictionary">optometrists</span> with <span class="dictionary">diagnostic pharmaceutical agents</span> upon presentation of <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of <span class="dictionary">Board</span> certification for administration of such drugs or an <span class="dictionary">optometrist</span> license issued after June 30, 1997. <a id="paragraph-292136" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3221/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1983, c. 6, &#xA7; 54-386.2; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 146; 2004, c. 744; 2023, c. 268.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
