Pursuant to section 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board specifies the prescribed qualification for the Specialist Optometrist Scope of Practice – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries, as described below.

Notice

1. This notice is the Notice of the prescribed qualification for a new scope of practice, the Specialist Optometrist Scope of Practice – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries, by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (2022).
2. This notice revokes and replaces the Notice Prescribed Qualification for the Specialist Optometrist Scope of Practice – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries for the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board in 2022 (New Zealand Gazette, 16 May 2022, Notice No. 2022-gs1719), by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board.
3. This notice comes into force on 1 July 2022.

The optometrist must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Hold registration in the Optometrist Scope of Practice and not be subject to any conditions; and
• have worked in a hospital ophthalmology department for a minimum of three years with at least 400 hours as a clinician in the relevant cataract and/or glaucoma clinic (as applies); and
• have demonstrated their understanding and comprehensive knowledge in the specified areas of competence for the safe delivery of ophthalmic laser surgeries published on the Board’s website (Pathway 6 – Specialist Optometrist – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries) to the satisfaction of their supervising ophthalmologist; and
• have satisfactorily observed the minimum required number of surgeries being performed by their supervising ophthalmologist published on the Board’s website (Pathway 6 – Specialist Optometrist – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries), attested to by their supervising ophthalmologist; and
• have satisfactorily and independently performed the required number of surgeries under the supervision of their supervising ophthalmologist published on the Board’s website (Pathway 6 – Specialist Optometrist – Ophthalmic Laser Surgeries), attested to by their supervising ophthalmologist.

Dated at Wellington this 17th day of May 2022.

ELMARIE STANDER, Registrar, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board.