Therapeutic Prescribing Habits of New Zealand Optometrists

Abstract

Following the Medicines Amendment Act 2013 and Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2014, New Zealand optometrists became authorised prescribers, giving them the ability to prescribe all medicines appropriate to their scope of practice. This was a big step up, enabling access to a much wider range of drugs, rather than restricting prescribing rights to a list of medicines specified in slow-moving regulation. However, the professional is cautious in nature, and despite these newfound privileges being available, optometrists have used their rights appropriately, with no adverse events encountered. To increase awareness of what is happening in the profession, I will detail the prescribing habits of optometrists, including how expansion of prescribing rights into oral medications, and independent glaucoma management, have impacted the profession.