Florida bill advances

Article

Last week, the Florida Senate voted 10-3 to approve SB 278, a bill which would grant additional prescribing authority to optometrists.

 

Tallahassee, FL-Last week, the Florida Senate voted 10-3 to approve SB 278, a bill which would grant additional prescribing authority to optometrists.

The bill grants optometrists the ability to prescribe oral medications. The language of SB 278 states: “requiring a certified optometrist to complete a course and examination on general and ocular pharmaceutical agents before administering or prescribing oral ocular pharmaceutical agents.”

The bill has moved to the Appropriations Committee.

A similar bill, HB 239,  is in the Florida House Health & Human Services Committee. 

Recent Videos
Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO; Nate Lighthizer, OD, FAAO; Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS; Ben Casella, OD; and Ben Gaddie, OD, FAAO shared their insights from the conference.
The California Optometric Association and the Los Angeles County Optometric Society have compiled resources for optometrists to get involved in continuing relief efforts.
Dr. Stephanie Woo discusses the upcoming CRU Eye Symposium
Agatha Sleboda, OD; Arti Shah, OD, FAAO; and Kent J. Nozacki, OD provide the best tips that they give to their patients during natural disasters events in light of the recent Greater Los Angeles wildfires.
Optometrists local to the Los Angeles area overview their efforts to continue providing support to patients affected by January's wildfires.
Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS, reviewed key takeaways from The Future of Myopia Management: Perspectives from Leading Experts talk from SECO 2025.
Dr. Nate Lighthizer shares key takeaways from the SECO Showcase on anterior segment technology and full laser certification course offered at SECO.
Dr. Ben Casella highlights the importance of SECO to the optometric community.
Dr. Mile Brujic discusses a case series on a novel gel for lacrimal occlusion.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.