A survey of Missouri doctors of optometry who have not been certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

This study surveyed all optometrists in Missouri who had not been certified to use TPAs to determine their attitudes regarding this recent expansion in the legally permitted scope of practice. About half of those who were DPA certified doctors plan to seek TPA certification, however only about a third of those without DPA certification plan on doing so. The most common reason given by DPA certified optometrists for not obtaining TPA certification was lack of time to meet the educational requirements. Most non-DPA certified doctors did not plan to seek TPA credentials because of impending retirement. Few of either group felt that their interactions with ophthalmologists had been adversely affected by the change in the optometric practice act.