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Thread: Have a problem...calling all opticians

  1. #1
    OptiBoard Professional Leighlee's Avatar
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    Have a problem...calling all opticians

    Our OD called the Georgia Society of Optometry, and was told that we HAD to give the PD as part of the prescription if we do a refraction as part of the exam. ( We were the first ones to ask this question of the GSO). We have never included PD as part of the refraction before. So we have never included a PD along with the RX that is handed to the patient. Any one running into this problem, in Georgia? I am concerned that if we are forced to give the PD, more and more of our optical patients will go elsewhere, like ONLINE!!.:drop:
    Last edited by Leighlee; 07-01-2008 at 10:04 AM. Reason: add text

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    Don't you have to set the PD on a phoropter or trial frame? Just write it down. What's the harm, how much "chair time" will be consumed.
    Of course, I have never trusted P.D.'s or K readings taken by someone else.

    Chip

  3. #3
    OptiBoard Professional Leighlee's Avatar
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    That's not the issue. We don't want to have to give the PD out, never have, when patient is not getting glasses through our optical department.
    We don't want to get caught in the middle between our OD and whatever place our patients go to get the RX filled.

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    Master OptiBoarder
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    Don't sweat it!

    Write it down in inches and forget about it!

    :cheers::cheers::cheers:

  5. #5
    Optical Clairvoyant OptiBoard Bronze Supporter Andrew Weiss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fezz View Post
    Write it down in inches and forget about it!

    :cheers::cheers::cheers:
    :bbg::bbg::bbg:
    Andrew

    "One must remember that at the end of the road, there is a path" --- Fortune Cookie

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    Compulsive Truthteller OptiBoard Gold Supporter Uncle Fester's Avatar
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    Massachusetts' Optometric Society has recently voted that the PD must be included upon patient request.

    Terribly short sighted IMO.

  7. #7
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Gold Supporter Judy Canty's Avatar
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    Do state societies of any denomination have the right to mandate what an rx must include? If so can my state opticians association mandate that only licensed Opticians be called "opticians" regardless of employer?

    What is the sound of one hand clapping?

    Good grief!!

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    The state society has no jurisdiction, only the state optometry board. I would not trust this "legal" interpretation.

    Chip, you make the best point. You always take a PD, regardless whether it was reported on the Rx, right? You do that because you are an optician. By giving the PD, it gives unqualified personnel the info they need to fill an Rx without ever seeing a patient, or fitting the specs, or talking about expectations, or explaining options. Do you see what I'm getting at?

    Yes Fester, including a PD on an Rx is terribly shortsighted.

    This is not a small issue - it could be our biggest problem going forward.

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    Master OptiBoarder TLG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fezz View Post
    Write it down in inches and forget about it!

    :cheers::cheers::cheers:
    PERFECT! You made my day -> :cheers:

  10. #10
    Compulsive Truthteller OptiBoard Gold Supporter Uncle Fester's Avatar
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    My bad...

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Fester View Post
    Massachusetts' Optometric Society has recently voted that the PD must be included upon patient request.

    Terribly short sighted IMO.
    Clarification---This was the board that decided to specify the PD requirement.

  11. #11
    Bad address email on file sharonm516's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Fester View Post
    Clarification---This was the board that decided to specify the PD requirement.
    Its the PD police! :shiner:

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    OptiBoard Professional Leighlee's Avatar
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    Where can I go to check on the defination of an eye exam, I mean, where can I check the legal defination of an eye exam for Georgia?

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    They seem to be requireing the O.D. to supply this, so have the O.D. supply it. He's the one writing the Rx not you. If you work independent or for an OMD, don't worry about it.

    Chip

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    Optical Clairvoyant OptiBoard Bronze Supporter Andrew Weiss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Leighlee View Post
    Where can I go to check on the defination of an eye exam, I mean, where can I check the legal defination of an eye exam for Georgia?
    I'd go to the state laws regarding the licensing of optometrists and the practice of optometry, and the regulations the state regulatory agency has put out. Somewhere in all that there should be a definition of what Georgia considers to be the minimum requirements for an eye examination.
    Andrew

    "One must remember that at the end of the road, there is a path" --- Fortune Cookie

  15. #15
    OptiBoard Professional Leighlee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chip anderson View Post
    They seem to be requireing the O.D. to supply this, so have the O.D. supply it. He's the one writing the Rx not you. If you work independent or for an OMD, don't worry about it.

    Chip

    Chip, I am trying to figure out what are the legal and necessary elements of a written spectacle RX. I know the OD is responsible for the writing of the RX, I am asking on his behalf...not mine. I have tried looking at our GA state board of Optometry, and only find guidelines concerning Contact lense RX's. But it is increasing becoming apparent that there is no answer to my question...IS PD a legal and/or necessary element of a spectacle RX? Does any one know for sure?

  16. #16
    Optical Clairvoyant OptiBoard Bronze Supporter Andrew Weiss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Leighlee View Post
    IS PD a legal and/or necessary element of a spectacle RX? Does any one know for sure?
    This subject has been discussed in various threads. I'd suggest first going to this one,

    http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...t+prescription

    and then maybe another to see if you find an answer there, or at least some clues about how to find the answer for your situation in Georgia.
    Andrew

    "One must remember that at the end of the road, there is a path" --- Fortune Cookie

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    De boad of O.D.'s makes it's own rules, some of which applies only to demselves and thier employees. Some of which are to put shackles on the rest of us.
    This one seems like an internal one. Howsomever, if it didn't git throu de legislature, it ain't a law.

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    Optimentor Diane's Avatar
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    There is NO Georgia Society of Optometry

    There is the Georgia Optometric Association, and they do a very fine job of keeping up with the statutes and rules in Georgia. You can also go straight to the Georgia State Board of Optometry and inquire as to whether this is a Georgia Law.

    237 Coliseum Drive
    Macon, GA 31217-3858
    (478) 207-2440

    Diane
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    Am I the only one who reads Chip's replies? The question was answered and settled. If giving out PD's is going to bankrupt your practice, your practice ain't gonna be around long anyway.

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    OptiBoard Professional Leighlee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Diane View Post
    There is the Georgia Optometric Association, and they do a very fine job of keeping up with the statutes and rules in Georgia. You can also go straight to the Georgia State Board of Optometry and inquire as to whether this is a Georgia Law.

    237 Coliseum Drive
    Macon, GA 31217-3858
    (478) 207-2440

    Diane
    Diane thank you. I found out that there is no society of ODS in GA. But that was the organization that a coworker gave me to look up... my bad for not checking before coming to you all for advice. I have since been looking at the Georgia State Board of Optometry and still can not find any standard of care or guidelines concerning spectacle Rx's. And by the way...our practice is an Ophthalmogy practice...so from what I am reading here, the pd does not have to be part of the Spectacle RX.
    Am I correct in that?:shiner:

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    Optimentor Diane's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Leighlee View Post
    Diane thank you. I found out that there is no society of ODS in GA. But that was the organization that a coworker gave me to look up... my bad for not checking before coming to you all for advice. I have since been looking at the Georgia State Board of Optometry and still can not find any standard of care or guidelines concerning spectacle Rx's. And by the way...our practice is an Ophthalmogy practice...so from what I am reading here, the pd does not have to be part of the Spectacle RX.
    Am I correct in that?:shiner:
    Leighlee,

    If you are part of an Ophthalmology practice, you will be governed by them. So I would go to the MD's for the answer to your question. You may still call the board office in Macon, but Ophthalmology comes under a different area of the state. You will find when searching under licensed professions, that Ophthalmolgy is not listed nor are physicians. Interesting, huh?

    Diane
    Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

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    OptiBoardaholic OptiBoard Silver Supporter Alvaro Cordova's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Leighlee View Post
    Our OD called the Georgia Society of Optometry, and was told that we HAD to give the PD as part of the prescription if we do a refraction as part of the exam. ( We were the first ones to ask this question of the GSO). We have never included PD as part of the refraction before. So we have never included a PD along with the RX that is handed to the patient. Any one running into this problem, in Georgia? I am concerned that if we are forced to give the PD, more and more of our optical patients will go elsewhere, like ONLINE!!.:drop:
    A state society can't "force" anyone to do anything. All it can do is file a complaint against you with the State Board. If you aren't doing anything illegal, they don't have a leg to stand on. Is this the law in your state? Maybe it is time to cancel one's membership in said society.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Fezz View Post
    Write it down in inches and forget about it!

    :cheers::cheers::cheers:
    I like it!

  24. #24
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Welcome to Optiboard BuckEyeGuy!

    :cheers::cheers::cheers:

  25. #25
    OptiBoard Professional Leighlee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Diane View Post
    Leighlee,

    If you are part of an Ophthalmology practice, you will be governed by them. So I would go to the MD's for the answer to your question. You may still call the board office in Macon, but Ophthalmology comes under a different area of the state. You will find when searching under licensed professions, that Ophthalmolgy is not listed nor are physicians. Interesting, huh?

    Diane
    The FTC defines prescription as such:

    "A
    prescription is the written specifications
    for lenses for eyeglasses
    which are derived from an eye examination,
    including all of the information
    specified by state law, if any, necessary
    to obtain lenses for eyeglasses." So how do you interpret this? Is PD necessary to obtain lenses for eyeglasses?:hammer:

    BUT..."
    Ophthalmic services is defined as: "the measuring,
    fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic
    goods subsequent to an eye examination."
    Last edited by Leighlee; 07-03-2008 at 09:12 AM. Reason: addition of info

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