1:30min
A hearing is due to commence on 4 August 2014 for the RANZCO and ASO action to challenge the validity of the OBA guidelines that allow independent glaucoma management by endorsed optometrists.
The hearing is scheduled for four days as a civil trial in the Queensland Supreme Court.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists are challenging the Optometry Board of Australia scheduled medicines guidelines that came into effect from March 2013.
Optometrists Association national professional services manager Jared Slater says the association will continue to support the OBA and appropriately trained optometrists managing glaucoma autonomously.
‘This is a positive step for patients and improves access to the eye care they need, particularly in locations where specialists’ services are unavailable or difficult to access in a timely fashion,’ he said.
Optometrists should continue to follow the OBA guidelines for use of scheduled medicines unless notified otherwise.