(a) “Infectious” means a type of lesion suspected to be caused by a pathogen.

(b) “NBEO” is the acronym for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

(c) “Peripheral Infectious Corneal Ulcers” means those infectious corneal ulcers limited to the area of the eye that lies outside the central 5mm diameter of the cornea.

(d) “Preceptorship service” means 65 hours of training in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular, systemic disease completed in no less than two months nor more than one year in one or more ophthalmologist's office(s) or optometric clinic(s). Preceptor's service shall be authorized by an accredited optometry school or college or recognized ophthalmological residency review committee in California. Preceptors shall be California-licensed ophthalmologists certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties and must be in good standing with the Medical Board of California.

(e) “Referral” means the primary responsibility for the treatment of a patient is transferred from the TPA optometrist to a consulting ophthalmologist.

(f) “Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents” includes mydriatics, cycloplegics, anesthetics, agents used for the reversal of mydriasis, topical lubricants, topical antiallergy agents, topical steroidal antiallergy agents, topical nonsteroidal and steroidal antiinflammatories, topical antibiotic agents, topical hyperosmotics, topical antiglaucoma agents (use pursuant to the certification process defined in Business and Professions Code section 3041, subdivision (f)), oral antihistaminines, prescription oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, oral antibiotics limited to tetracyclines, dicloxacillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin with clavulanate, erythromycin, clarythromycin, cephalexin, cephadroxil, cefaclor, trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin (use limited to the eyelid infection and chlamydial disease, topical antiviral medication and oral acyclovir) use specified in Business and Professions Code section 3041, subdivision (c)(12), non-controlled substance oral analgesics, codeine with compounds and hydrocodone with compounds (use limited to three days) and topical miotics for diagnostic purposes and nonprescription medications.

(g) “TMOD” is the acronym for the “Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease” examination administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Passage of this examination is mandatory for certain TPA certification applicants.

(h) “TPA” is the acronym for Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents.

(i) “TPA certified optometrist” means a California licensed optometrist who has met all of the requirements for certification set forth by the State Board of Optometry to use Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents in his or her optometric practice.

(j) “Treat” means the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, as described in Business and Professions Code section 3041, subdivision (c), and the procedures described in subdivision (e).

(k) “Approval” means to certify a TPA certified optometrist to perform lacrimal irrigation and dilation of patients over the age of 12 years pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 3041, subdivision (e)(6).