MN Statute 148.56 Amended effective August 2025
Modernizing the Scope of Care
8/1/2025 4:26:43 PM
As of today, August 1, 2025, the portion of state law defining optometry is amended and scope of care has been modernized. There are two distinct pieces of the scope modernization, the medication piece and the injection authority.
Restrictions on various medications takes effect, on August 1, 2025, with no further action required. This piece allows licensees to prescribe oral antivirals and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with no time limitation. Licensees will also be able to prescribe oral steroids for 14 days without consultation with an MD.
Licensees will be able to perform intradermal/subcutaneous injections for the purposes of anesthesia during the excision of epidermal lesions, chalazion excision, and botulinum toxin injection, which includes cosmetic applications.
Restrictions on various medications takes effect, on August 1, 2025, with no further action required. This piece allows licensees to prescribe oral antivirals and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with no time limitation. Licensees will also be able to prescribe oral steroids for 14 days without consultation with an MD.
Licensees will be able to perform intradermal/subcutaneous injections for the purposes of anesthesia during the excision of epidermal lesions, chalazion excision, and botulinum toxin injection, which includes cosmetic applications.
PLEASE NOTE: No optometrist will be able to perform the injections UNTIL AUTHORIZED by the Board of Optometry after demonstrating sufficient educational or clinical training to perform injections.
The Board of Optometry will be working on the process that will be required for injections authorization. The next Board Meeting is on August 12th 2025. As the Board of Optometry moves through this administrative process, we will keep licensees updated be email and MBO website postings.