Committee backs bill letting optometrists dispense prescribed eye medicines

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to give Senate Bill 140 a favorable recommendation, allowing doctors of optometry to stock and dispense pharmaceutical agents they prescribe for diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi, committee testimony showed.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the change is narrow: it does not expand what optometrists may prescribe but would permit them to sell or dispense the specific medicines they already prescribe. Supporters said the change would improve patient access in rural areas and allow timely treatment in urgent cases. The proposal requires the prescribing doctor to be on site when dispensing, to provide patients with information about proper use, and to maintain a readily retrievable record system of dispensed medicines.

John Whitlow, a 32-year optometric practitioner from LaGrange representing the Georgia Optometric Association, told the committee that the change would improve care and patient compliance. “There are times it's 10:00 at night, 12 o'clock at night. You get a phone call. Patient has a foreign body… You go into the office. You're able to treat that foreign body, but you want treatment to start immediately with the antibiotic,” Whitlow said. He said some drugs are difficult to obtain locally and described one example: “It's called 1 percent cyclogel… I can't find 1% cyclo gel. I don't care if it's 12:00 noon. Pharmacies just don't carry it anymore.” Whitlow added that having the medication on hand could reduce the need to prescribe oral narcotics for pain.

A representative speaking for the optometry community clarified limits on the proposal. “It doesn't apply to controlled substances. It does not allow us to dispense or sell controlled substances. It does not expand our scope of practice,” the Auburn Alliance general counsel said during testimony.

Committee members asked about insurance and contractual issues for dispensing in-office. Dr. Kirkpatrick noted that insurance coverage and contract terms can complicate in-office dispensing; Whitlow said the bill focuses on the delivery option and convenience for patients and that the specifics of insurance reimbursement were not addressed in the testimony.

After testimony and brief discussion, a motion to give the bill a favorable recommendation was made and seconded; the committee voice vote passed unanimously. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or named yea/nay votes.

The bill’s supporters emphasized patient access, especially in rural areas, and the potential for new drug-delivery technologies — including drug-eluting contact lenses and medicated punctal plugs — to be stocked and administered by the prescribing optometrist. Opponents or neutral parties did not request that the committee amend the bill during this hearing.

Next steps: With the committee’s favorable recommendation, the bill will proceed according to Senate rules for further consideration.