Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1952: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 8, relative to optometry.
Status: Chaptered, May 5, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary The "Optometry Law" provides for the regulation of the practice of optometry in this state, creating the board of optometry ("board") to regulate such profession through rules, regulations, policies, and procedures not inconsistent with such law. Under such law, the practice of optometry is defined. This bill revises the present law definition to clarify that the practice includes treatment of the eyes, eyelids, and the eye's adnexa and all of the following: The application of LASER assisted procedures in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of a condition or disease of the anterior segment of the eyelid, eye, or eye's adnexa. The use of anterior chamber paracentesis in an emergency situation requiring immediate reduction of pressure inside the eye. The use of a local anesthetic to treat changes in the eye's adnexa as a result of non-pathological aging. The use of local anesthesia by injection in performing intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal pharmaceuticals for the aesthetic mitigation of non-pathological aging facial tissue. Further, this bill clarifies that the practice of optometry generally includes the performance of a surgical procedure for the correction and relief of an ocular abnormality. However, all of the following procedures are prohibited: Retina laser procedures, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Non-laser surgery related to removal of the eye from a living human being. Non-laser surgery requiring full thickness incision or excision of the cornea or sclera other than paracentesis in an emergency situation requiring immediate reduction of the pressure inside the eye. Penetrating keratoplasty, also known as a corneal transplant, or lamellar keratoplasty.
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Health 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB1952 Terry Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 2076* House Bill No. 1952 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-8-102, is amended by deleting subdivisions (11) and (12) and substituting: (11) "Orthoptics" means any ocular exercise for the correction or relief of abnormal muscles or functions of the eyes; (12) "Practice of optometry": (A) Means: (i) The employment of an objective or subjective method for the purpose of ascertaining eye health and a defect of vision, muscular anomaly, or another abnormal condition of the eyelids, eyes, or the eye's adnexa; (ii) The prescribing of ophthalmic lenses or prisms to remedy or relieve a defect of vision or muscular anomaly and the prescribing of contact lenses, including those with prescription power and those without prescription power, which are worn for cosmetic purposes; (iii) The use of orthoptics and the adjusting, fitting, or adapting of lenses, prisms, or eyeglasses to remedy or relieve a defect of vision or a muscular anomaly; (iv) The supplying, replacement, or duplication of an ophthalmic lens or frame; and HA0725 (v) The examination, diagnosis, management, prevention, or treatment of a condition or disease of the eyelid, eye, or the eye's adnexa, which includes the following: (a) …