Welcome to the Optometry Homepage
The State Board of Optometry regulates the practice of optometry in Colorado. The Board does not regulate eye clinics or opticians. Board activities include licensing optometrists, investigating complaints against optometrists and the unlicensed practice of optometry, and enforcing disciplinary actions against violators of the Optometric Practice Act and Board Rules. The Board is made up of seven members: five licensed optometrists and two public members.
Program Information
- Program/Board Members
Karen Phelan, Program Director
State Board of Optometry
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202Phone: 303-894-7800 | Fax: 303-894-7764 | Email: dora_optometryboard@state.co.us
Board Members:
- Kyle Treick, O.D., President
Optometrist Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2025 - Colleen Daywalt, Public Member, Vice President
Public Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2025 - Tuesday Nicole Hennessy, O.D.
Optometrist Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2025 - Karen Higashi-Reynolds, O.D.
Optometrist Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2026 - Rupa Patel, O.D.
Optometrist Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2028 - Charles Philpy, O.D.
Optometrist Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2028 - Rachel DeDeyn, Public Member
Public Member | Term Expires: April 15, 2028
- Kyle Treick, O.D., President
- Public Notices
Permanent Rulemaking Hearing – November 16, 2023
The purpose of this Permanent Rulemaking Hearing is to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to testify before the Director determines whether to repeal on a permanent basis Rule 1.29 - PROTECTIONS FOR PROVISION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IN COLORADO to implement Colorado Senate Bill 23-188 (Concerning Protections for Accessing Reproductive Health Care) and Rule 1.30 - PROTECTING COLORADO’S WORKFORCE AND EXPANDING LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES to implement Colorado Senate Bill 23-265 (Concerning a Prohibition on a Regulator Imposing Discipline Against a Person Based on Certain Activities Involving Marijuana).
- Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 9:30 A.M. (MDT)
- Rulemaking Hearing Notice
- Draft Rules
- Written comments regarding SB23-188 (Link will be updated as comments are received.)
- Written comments regarding SB23-265 (Link will be updated as comments are received.)
REQUESTING WRITTEN STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS
Implementation of Colorado Senate Bills 23-188 and 23-265What is this about?
The following Boards and Programs within the Division of Professions and Occupations are requesting written comments regarding the implementation of Colorado Senate Bills 23-188 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA) and 23-265 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA), and the proposed repeal of the Board and Program rules that are no longer necessary after the codification of these regulations into law.
Each of the listed Boards and Programs will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on the dates listed to determine whether to repeal the rules on a permanent basis to implement the law. Please submit written comments as soon as possible. The Boards and Programs will continue to accept written comments until the Permanent Rulemaking Hearings where stakeholders will be given a final opportunity to testify before the Board and/or the Director or Director's designee. Please visit the Board and Program websites under the "Public Notices" tab for the most current information, including webinar registration information, written comments (SB23-188 and SB23-265), and the draft rules.
Joint Stakeholder Meeting - Opioid Guidelines - July 17, 2023
The Colorado State Board of Pharmacy, Colorado Dental Board, Colorado Medical Board, Colorado State Board of Nursing, Colorado State Board of Optometry, Colorado Podiatry Board, and Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine are holding a virtual Stakeholder Meeting on July 17, 2023, for stakeholders to provide feedback regarding Colorado’s Guidelines for the Safe Prescribing and Dispensing of Opioids as these guidelines relate to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain.
- Stakeholder Meeting notice: Monday, July 17, 2023, at 12:30 p.m.
- Stakeholder Written Comments (Link will be updated weekly as comments are received.)
- Stakeholder Meeting Recording
Emergency Rulemaking Hearing - October 5, 2022
The State Board of Optometry will hold an Emergency Rulemaking Hearing to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to provide testimony before the Board considers adopting the proposed new Rules 1.30 and 1.31, to implement Executive Order D 2022-032 (Directing State Agencies to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care in Colorado); and Executive Order D 2022-034 (Protecting Colorado’s Workforce and Expanding Licensing Opportunities). The Board will consider emergency adoption of Rules 1.30 and 1.31, to comply with the reporting requirements of the Executive Orders.
- Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 12:00 P.M. (MDT)
- Notice, Draft Rules, EO D 2022-032, and EO D 2022-034
- (EO D 2022-034) Joint Stakeholder Meeting: July 29, 2022
- (EO D 2022-032) Joint Stakeholder Meeting: July 22, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting - September 9, 2022
The State Board of Optometry will hold a virtual Stakeholder Meeting to allow stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback on multiple proposed revisions throughout the Board’s rules to implement Colorado Senate Bill 22-116 (Concerning the ability of an individual to obtain an occupational credential through the occupational credential portability program); Colorado House Bill 22-1233 (Concerning the Continuation of the Regulation of Optometry by the State Board of Optometry, and …, Implementing the Recommendations in the 2021 Sunset Report by the Department of Regulatory Agencies); Colorado House Bill 22-1115 (Concerning the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program); and Colorado House Bill 22-1284 (Concerning updates to state surprise billing laws to facilitate the implementation of surprise billing protections, and aligning state law with the federal "No Surprises Act").
- Notice, Draft Rules, SB22-116, HB22-1233, HB22-1115, and HB22-1284
- SB22-116 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: June 10, 2022
- HB22-1284 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: August 12, 2022
- HB22-1115 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: August 29, 2022
- Stakeholder Meeting: September 9, 2022
Permanent and Emergency Rulemaking Hearing - November 18, 2021
The Colorado State Board of Optometry held an Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on November 18, 2021, that allowed stakeholders a final opportunity to provide testimony on the implementation of Colorado House Bill 21-1276 (Concerning the prevention of substance use disorders, and the proposed new Rule 1.29 to implement HB21-1276 - which will be considered for emergency and permanent adoption to comply with the legislative mandate.
- Notice, HB21-1276, and Draft Rules
- HB21-1276 Joint Stakeholder Meeting (recording): July 23, 2021
- Emergency Rule Effective Date: November 18, 2021
- Permanent Rule Effective Date: January 14, 2022
Joint Stakeholder Meeting - October 15, 2021
The State Board of Pharmacy, State Board of Nursing, Colorado Medical Board, Colorado Dental Board, Colorado Podiatry Board, State Board of Veterinary Medicine, and State Board of Optometry held a Joint Stakeholder Meeting to gather feedback to identify and create a list of prescription drugs and substances (using evidence-based practices), in addition to controlled substances, that have a substantial potential for abuse and must require pharmacists and prescription drug outlets to report those prescription drugs and substances to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) when dispensed to a patient. The Board is considering the development of new rules to monitor non-controlled prescription drugs/substances, as allowed per section 12-280-404(2)(b)(I), C.R.S., of Colorado Senate Bill 21-098.
- Notice and SB21-098
- Joint Stakeholder Meeting (recording): October 15, 2021
Joint Stakeholder Meeting - July 23, 2021
The Division of Professions and Occupations held a VIRTUAL Joint Stakeholder Meeting to receive feedback on the implementation of Colorado House Bill 21-1276 (Concerning the prevention of substance use disorders), and subsequent proposed draft rules.
Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - May 20, 2021
The State Board of Optometry held a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on May 20, 2021, that allowed stakeholders a final opportunity to provide feedback before the Board considered adopting revisions to Rule 1.26 and Appendix A, to correct language in the rule that conflicted with portions of the statute in section 12-30-115, C.R.S., of Colorado Senate Bill 20-102 (Concerning required disclosures to patients regarding formal actions based on sexual misconduct).
- Legislative Updates
- 2023 New Legislation
- 2022 New Legislation
- HB22-1041: Privacy Protections For Protected Persons
- HB22-1098: Department Of Regulatory Agencies Barriers To Practice Regulated Professions
- HB22-1165 Rule Review Bill
- HB22-1240 Mandatory Reporters
- HB22-1257: 2022 Criminal And Juvenile Justice Commission Recommendations
- HB22-1270 Change Term Name-based Criminal History Record Check
- HB22-1278: Behavioral Health Administration
- HB22-1233: Sunset Continue Regulation Of Optometry
- HB22-1267 Culturally Relevant Training Health Professionals
- HB22-1291: Sunrise Review Professions Occupations
- SB22-013: Boards and Commissions
- SB22-027: Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- SB22-076: Complaint Occupational License Official Acts
- SB22-116: Increase Occupational Credential Portability
- SB22-143: Update Common Provision Term Regulator Title 12
- SB22-162: Administration Organization Act Modernization
- SB22-174: Sunset Review Hearing Criteria
- SB22-226: Programs To Support Health-care Workforce
- 2021 New Legislation
- HB21-1012 Expand Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- HB 21-1123: CAPS Check for Substantiated Cases of Mistreatment of an At-Risk Adult
- HB21-1169: Prohibit Discrimination Organ Transplant Recipient
- HB21-1198: Healthcare Billing Requirements for Indigent Patients
- HB21-1232: Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option
- HB21-1276 Prevention of Substance Use Disorders
- HB21-1297: Pharmacy Benefit Manager and Insurer Requirements
- HB21-1300: Health-care Provider Liens for Injured Persons
- HB21-1307: Prescription Insulin Pricing And Access
- SB21-011: Pharmacist Prescribe Dispense Opiate Antagonist
- SB21-077: Remove Lawful Presence Verification Credentialing
- SB21-094: Sunset Continue State Board of Pharmacy
- SB21-097: Sunset Medical Transparency Act
- SB21-098: Sunset Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- SB21-122: Opiate Antagonist Bulk Purchase And Standing Orders
- SB21-271: Misdemeanor Reform
- 2020 New Legislation
- Meeting Minutes