21 NCAC 42E .0103. PRESCRIPTIONS

(a)  All prescription forms shall conform to state and federal statutes governing such forms and shall include the name, address, state licensure number, and the Drug Enforcement Administration number of the prescriber, if applicable.  The optometrist shall be responsible for providing appropriate safeguards within his practice to prevent the unauthorized use or diversion of his prescription forms, and shall immediately notify the Board upon determining that prescription blanks might be missing or misused.  Should missing prescription blanks bear his DEA number, the optometrist shall also notify the North Carolina State Board of Pharmacy, giving that board the date he determined that the prescriptions blanks were missing or misused, the number missing, and any information that could be of help in preventing unauthorized use of the prescription blanks.

(b)  In the event that legend drugs being prescribed by the optometrist are dispensed by the optometrist, the optometrist shall cause the following written or printed information to be given to the patient for each such drug dispensed at the time the drug is dispensed:

(1)           date of issuance;

(2)           name and address of patient;

(3)           name, address and telephone number of prescriber;

(4)           name, strength, dosage form and quantity of drug dispensed;

(5)           the number of refills, if authorized;

(6)           route of administration of drug dispensed; and

(7)           directions for use.

(c)  Within one year of examination, a patient may request and is entitled to and shall receive a copy of his spectacle prescription.  The prescription may show a statement of caution or a disclaimer if such a statement or disclaimer is supported by appropriate findings and documented patient records.  An expiration date of not less than one year from the date of the prescribing examination shall appear on every such prescription.

(d)  A prescription for contact lenses shall explicitly state that it is for contact lenses and specify the lens type and all specifications necessary for the ordering and fabrication of the lenses.  Words or phrases such as "OK for contact lenses", "fit with contact lenses", "contact lenses may be worn", or similar wording do not constitute a contact lens prescription.  Until all the requirements of a satisfactory fit of contact lenses have been determined by the prescriber, the contact lens prescription cannot be written.  All contact lenses used in the determination of a contact lens prescription are considered to be diagnostic lenses.  At such time that it has been determined that a prescription can be written, such prescription may show a statement of caution or a disclaimer if such a statement or disclaimer is supported by appropriate findings and documented patient records.  An expiration date consistent with the type and modality of use of the contact lens being prescribed shall appear on every such prescription.  In the event that in the professional opinion of the prescribing optometrist, a patient is not adhering to appropriate regimens of care and follow-up with regard to the continuing use of contact lenses, the optometrist may terminate his optometric care of that patient and notify the patient that he is terminating such relationship and the reasons for doing so.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90‑114; 90-117.5; 90‑127.2; 90‑127.3;

Eff. June 1, 1989;

Amended Eff. April 1, 1993.