The changing scope of Optometry in New Zealand: historical perspectives, current practice and research advances

Managing professional identity within a changing market environment: New Zealand optometrists’ responses to the growth of corporate optometry

“…The five year Honours degree qualification run by the University of Auckland is New Zealand's only training programme for optometrists, although optometrists with qualifications from other countries may practise within New Zealand once they are registered. The degree programme has a strong medical focus, training optometrists to diagnosis and treat an increasing range of eye problems as well as prescribe spectacles and contact lenses (Black et al 2019). The early professional socialisation of recent optometry graduates is therefore as highly qualified healthcare practitioners rather than as small business owners or entrepreneurs.…”

Oral medication prescribing by optometrists in New Zealand

“…Optometry in New Zealand has evolved from a focus on clinical optics and refraction when it was first offered as a three-year Diploma by the University of Auckland in 1965, to the five-year Bachelor Honours degree now on offer. 1 While the original Medicines Act 1981 allowed an optometrist to 'sell or supply a medicine for use in cleaning, soaking, or lubricating contact lenses', the legislation permitting therapeutic medication use by optometrists came through as an amendment to the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Act in 1996. This legalised the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents such as anaesthetics, mydriatics, and cycloplegics, 'for facilitating the measurement of the powers of vision'.…”

Medical optometry: A new term to describe the therapeutic scope in Australia and New Zealand

“…The profession is regulated and governed by legislation in the respective countries, such as the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act in New Zealand and the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) in Australia. [1][2][3] In both countries, the scope is no longer limited to clinical optics and refraction but includes a strong medical focus in ocular pathology and therapeutic management.…”

“…The endorsement for scheduled medicines (Australia) and therapeutic and pharmaceutical agents (TPA) scope (NZ) (described in the paper as the therapeutic scope) for optometrists was introduced in 2000 and 2005, respectively. 1,2,4 However, it must be mentioned that in Australia, this legislation was passed in 1996 in the State of Victoria but the legislation did not come into effect until 2000. The scope allowed optometrists who have undergone the appropriate training to prescribe a range of medications to treat ocular-related pathology, which was previously restricted under the respective legislation of each country.…”

“…However, some Australian and NZ universities offer a post-graduate course, with the University of Melbourne offering a Doctor of Optometry degree. 1,2,9 Additionally, 'medical optometry' has been a term used in the USA to describe the equivalent therapeutic scope of Australia and NZ. 10 The NEBO also offers and administers the Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry (ACMO) certification and associations such as the American College of Medical Optometry and American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry exist, which advocate for awareness of 'medical optometry'.…”