Mississippi Code Title 73. Professions and Vocations § 73-19-103

(1) The State Board of Medical Licensure and the State Board of Pharmacy each shall, within thirty (30) days after July 1, 1982, and annually thereafter, designate one (1) member from its board, on the minutes of each respective board, to advise and consult with the State Board of Optometry on the matters specified in Sections 73-19-103 through 73-19-109. The State Board of Optometry, the State Board of Medical Licensure, and the State Board of Pharmacy shall work in cooperation with each other to the greatest extent possible in implementing the provisions of Sections 73-19-101 through 73-19-111.

(2) 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 prescribe additional educational requirements and additional theoretical and practical examinations for optometrists licensed to practice optometry in the State of Mississippi and applicants for a license to practice optometry in the State of Mississippi to become certified to use certain specified pharmaceutical agents as diagnostic agents only. The authorized use of such diagnostic pharmaceutical agents shall be specifically limited to those pharmaceutical agents which, when applied topically to the eye, are utilized in a prescribed manner to assess ocular conditions for the purpose of referring any deviation from the normal to a physician for treatment. The pharmaceutical agents so authorized shall be limited to the following classes: anesthetics, mydriatics, cycloplegics, dyes and over-the-counter drugs. Such agents shall be utilized in the practice of optometry only by the optometrist and shall not be dispensed to any patient. The limitations of this subsection shall not apply to those optometrists certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents under the provisions of Sections 73-19-153 through 73-19-165.

(3) Any optometrist utilizing a diagnostic pharmaceutical agent so authorized shall maintain accurate and current medical records concerning the procurement and use of such pharmaceutical agents in the same form and manner as is required for physicians, in addition to any records required to be kept or otherwise necessary to keep in the practice of optometry. All of the medical records concerning the procurement and use of such pharmaceutical agents shall be available for inspection at any time by representatives of the State Board of Optometry, and all such records shall be made available for inspection to the State Board of Medical Licensure and the State Board of Pharmacy through their designated members.