The History of the Passage of Legislation Authorizing the Optometric Use of Drugs for Diagnostic Purposes in Alabama

Abstract

This article recalls events that led to the passage of legislation authorizing the use of drugs for diagnostic purposes by optometrists in other states prior to the law’s passage in the State of Alabama.  Some states authorized optometrists to utilize drugs for diagnostic purposes by state statue and others by attorney general’s ruling.  In Alabama a new state optometry practice act was passed in 1975. This law was complex and confusing, and of equal importance, resulted in a series of attorney general’s opinions, after the new state optometry practice act was passed. A series of Attorney General’s opinions shifted between a favorable, or an unfavorable, opinion over the next seven years. Finally, in 1982, the Attorney General issued a final determination that resulted in a favorable opinion for optometry.  During the ensuing years no lawsuits were brought against optometrists that involved the use of drugs for diagnostic purposes.