Title 73, Professions and Vocations

Any optometrist who encounters a patient in the course of his practice who is, in the exercise of the optometrist’s professional judgment, suffering from any symptom or combination of symptoms indicating an underlying pathologic or physiologic disorder or disfunction necessitatin…

Any pharmacist licensed under the laws of the State of Mississippi is hereby authorized to dispense those diagnostic pharmaceutical agents specified in Section 73-19-103 to any optometrist certified by the State Board of Optometry to use such agents.

Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office the secretary of the state board of optometry shall give a bond to the state, to be approved by the board, in the sum of two thousand dollars conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office. The pre…

(1) Any optometrist violating any provision of Sections 73-19-101 through 73-19-109 shall, upon conviction for a first offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) at the discretion of the court, and upon conviction for a sec…

Each member of the state board of optometry shall be entitled to receive per diem as authorized under Section 25-3-69 in addition to all actual, necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties, including mileage as authorized by law for state officials and employe…

The state board of optometry shall have an official seal and shall keep a record of its proceedings, a register of persons registered as optometrists and register licenses by it revoked. Its records shall be open to public inspection, and it shall keep on file all examination pap…

(1) Persons lawfully engaged in the practice of optometry in the State of Mississippi may prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry after being authorized to use such agents under the provisions of Section 73-19-153. (2) The designated membe…

(1) Any optometrist certified to use diagnostic pharmaceutical agents as provided in Section 73-19-105 also may be certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents when he has satisfactorily completed the following:(a) A course consisting of a minimum of sixty-four (64) hours o…

(1) Within thirty (30) days after July 1, 1994, and annually thereafter, the State Board of Optometry with the advice and consultation of the designated members of the State Board of Medical Licensure and the State Board of Pharmacy, shall develop rules and regulations requiring …

(a) Any optometrist certified to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents under Sections 73-19-153 through 73-19-165 is authorized to examine, diagnose, manage and treat visual defects, abnormal conditions and diseases of the human eye or eyelids, including:(a) Over-th…

Any optometrist who is certified to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents shall be held to the same standard of care in the prescription and use of such agents, and in diagnosis and treatment, as is common to a licensed medical doctor.

If a patient of any optometrist who is certified to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents is not responding to the prescribed treatment within the normal response time for the condition being treated, in the optometrist’s professional judgment, the optometrist shall…

Any optometrist who is certified to prescribe and use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents shall be provided by the State Board of Optometry a certificate reflecting such certification, and such certification shall be prominently displayed in the optometrist’s office.

Any pharmacist licensed under the laws of the State of Mississippi is authorized to fill and dispense to patients those therapeutic pharmaceutical agents specified in Section 73-19-157 for any optometrist certified by the State Board of Optometry to use such agents.

Any person over the age of twenty-one (21) years, of good moral character, and who has graduated from a high school or preparatory school affiliated with and recognized by a state university, and who has graduated from a reputable school or college of optometry, shall be entitled…

Every person desiring to be licensed as in this chapter provided, shall file with the secretary an application, verified by oath, setting forth the facts which entitle the applicant to examination and licensure under the provisions of this chapter. The said board shall hold at le…

(a) An optometrist may be licensed in Mississippi to perform authorized ophthalmic YAG laser posterior capsulotomy procedures if he/she:(a) Provides proof of holding a Mississippi license to practice therapeutic optometry and is in good standing;(b) Provides proof of satisfactory…

(a) An optometrist licensed in another state who applies for licensure by endorsement in Mississippi shall be credentialed to perform authorized ophthalmic YAG laser posterior capsulotomy procedures if the applicant provides proof that:(a) The applicant holds an active license in…

Optometrists shall report to the board the outcome of every authorized ophthalmic surgery procedure performed in such form as required or directed by the board.

Except as provided in Section 33-1-39, the board shall charge the following fees for examination, registrations and renewals of certificates: The sum of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for an examination of an applicant who is a resident of Mississippi and not more th…

(1) (a) The board shall refuse to grant a certificate of licensure to any applicant and may cancel, revoke or suspend the operation of any certificate by it granted for any or all of the following reasons: unprofessional and unethical conduct or the conviction of a crime involvin…

An applicant for a certificate of licensure who has been examined by the state board of another state which, through reciprocity, similarly accredits the holder of a certificate issued by the board of this state to the full privileges of practice within such state, on the payment…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as conferring on the holder of any certificate of licensure issued by said board the title of oculist, ophthalmologist, or any other word or abbreviation indicating that he is engaged in the practice of medicine or surgery.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to physicians or surgeons practicing under authority of licenses issued under the laws of this state for the practice of medicine or surgery. And provided that this chapter shall not prohibit merchants and druggists who are actually …

It shall not be lawful for any person in this state to engage in the practice of optometry or to hold himself out as a practitioner of optometry, or attempt to determine by an examination of the eyes the kind of glasses needed by any person, or to hold himself out as able to exam…

Complaints, irrespective of source, touching upon the professional conduct or conduct evincing unfitness for the practice of optometry made against optometrists licensed in this state, that may be received by or that may come to the attention of any member of the board, shall be …

(a) When any complaint or charge touching upon the professional conduct or conduct evincing unfitness for the practice of optometry against any optometrist subject to discipline hereunder is referred to a member of the board for investigation, the board member shall take the foll…

The board investigator shall immediately investigate the complaint; and upon completion of his investigation he shall inform the accused optometrist that a complaint has been filed against him and that he is under investigation, advise the accused optometrist of the general natur…

(a) After completion of his investigation, the board investigator shall make a report of his findings and recommendations to the member of the board designated to investigate the matter. After receipt of the investigator’s report, the board member shall take the following action:…

(1) The board shall fix a time and place for any formal complaint hearing and shall cause a written notice specifying the offense or offenses for which the licensee is charged and notice of the time and place of the hearing to be served upon the licensee at least twenty (20) days…

(1) Upon finding of the existence of grounds for discipline of any person holding a license, seeking a license, or seeking to renew a license under the provisions of this chapter, the board may impose one or more of the following penalties:(a) Suspension of the offender’s license…

(1) The right to appeal from a final action of the board is hereby granted. Such appeal shall be to the chancery court of the county of residence of the licensee and shall be on the record made, including a verbatim transcript of the testimony at the hearing. The appeal shall be …

(1) Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction for his first offense shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) at the discretion of the court, and upon conviction for a second or later offense shall …

It shall be unlawful for any person, persons, corporation, proprietorship, partnership, or any entity other than a licensed optometrist or licensed ophthalmologist to dispense, fit, or prescribe to the public contact lenses, including FDA-approved medicated contact lenses, or any…

Any person violating the provisions of Section 73-19-61 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) and/or imprisoned not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year at the discretion of the court.

Any person, organization or entity acting in good faith and without malice, who makes any report or provides any information to any law enforcement agency regarding any violation of Section 73-19-61 or who assists in the investigation or prosecution of any violation of Section 73…

The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint a State Board of Optometry, consisting of five (5) persons, citizens of Mississippi, each of whom shall be a nonmedical man or woman actually engaged in the practice of optometry for five (5) years next preced…

The State Board of Optometry shall organize by the election from its members a president and a secretary, who shall hold their respective offices for one (1) year. It shall hold regular meetings for examination, beginning on the second week of January and July of each year, and a…