The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) has voiced serious concern regarding the Optometry Board of Australia’s (OBA) proposal to expand optometrists’ prescribing rights to include oral and topical medicines.
In its latest Eyewatch newsletter, the ASO said it acknowledged that limited topical prescribing, when supported by appropriate training, could enhance patient access.
But it believed that the OBA’s proposal to expand the medications that optometrists could prescribe exceeded what was safely achievable within an optometrist’s scope of practice.
“Several of the drugs listed are systemic in nature, requiring a deep understanding of internal medicine, pharmacology, and multi-organ interactions that form the foundation of a medical degree,” it said.
According to the newsletter, in an ASO survey, one member said: “Prescribing oral antibiotics, antivirals, and anti-inflammatory drugs is not simply a matter of treating the eye.
“These medications can affect the entire body, interact with other medicines, and mask or exacerbate underlying conditions. Without full medical training, there is a real risk of harm.”
ASO members had raised concerns that expanding prescribing rights without matching educational requirements might fragment care, create diagnostic blind spots, and delay proper treatment.
It emphasised that ophthalmologists and optometrists worked best in collaboration, where each profession’s expertise was respected and used to deliver holistic care.
Any regulatory change had to be evidence-based, safety-driven, and patient-centred, it said.
“We are not opposed to collaboration,” said ASO CEO Ms Katrina Ronne. “We are opposed to changes that put Australians at risk. The focus should be on strengthening existing partnerships, not weakening safeguards.”
The ASO said it would participate in ongoing consultations among the OBA, medical specialists, and the public to ensure that prescribing regulations maintained Australia’s world-class standards of eye health and patient safety.
