M-9, r. 8 - Regulation respecting the professional activities which may be performed by an orthoptist

Updated to 12 December 2023

This document has official status.

chapter M-9, r. 8

Regulation respecting the professional activities which may be performed by an orthoptist

Medical Act

(chapter M-9, s. 3).

Professional Code

(chapter C-26, s. 94, par. h and s. 94.1).

1. The purpose of this Regulation is to determine amongst professional activities that may be performed by physicians those which, pursuant to the conditions provided therein, may be performed by an orthoptist.

O.C. 773-2004, s. 1.

2. In this Regulation, “orthoptist” means any person who either

(1)  holds an orthoptist’s certificate issued by the Canadian Orthoptic Society or an equivalent certificate recognized by that body, according to the standards established by Section XI of its “By laws (2001)”; or

(2)  was an orthoptist on 11 November 1987.

O.C. 773-2004, s. 2.

3. Any professional activities contemplated in section 4 may only be performed in an ophtalmologist’s office or on behalf of an institution which operates a hospital centre within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) or the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5). The patient must have an ophtalmological examination as a result of which he or she is referred to an orthoptist, except for the professional activities contemplated in the first to the sixth paragraphs of that section which may also be performed in the course of a screening program.

O.C. 773-2004, s. 3.

4. An orthoptist may perform, under the conditions provided in this Regulation, the following professional activities:

(1)  observing and describing the general aspect of the eyes and accessory parts in relation to strabismus;

(2)  evaluating visual acuity and type of fixation including ophthalmoscopic method;

(3)  neutralizing prescription glasses;

(4)  evaluating oculomotor balance and binocular vision by:

(a)  examination by cover test;

(b)  evaluating oculomotor balance, ductions, versions and vergences;

(c)  evaluating accommodative convergence relations on accommodation;

(d)  making pre- and post-operative evaluations of ocular motility and the condition of binocular vision;

(e)  evaluating stereoscopic vision;

(f)  evaluating diplopia;

(g)  using prisms or additional removable lenses;

(h)  observing and describing ocular torticolis;

(i)  evaluating neutralization;

(j)  evaluating retinal correspondence;

(k)  looking for basic deviation;

(5)  performing Hess test and its derivatives;

(6)  evaluating visual field;

(7)  treating amblyopia through:

(a)  occlusion;

(b)  penalization;

(c)  active or passive methods to overcome amblyopia;

(d)  home exercise program;

(8)  treating the sensory element through:

(a)  home exercise program;

(b)  proven methods according to medical science data aimed at:

i.  improving accomodative convergence;

ii.  increasing vergence amplitude;

iii.  eliminating pathological neutralization through occlusion of any other active exercise;

(9)  applying drops or ointments for therapeutic purposes;

(10)  instilling drops for diagnostic tests;

(11)  performing electrooculography and electronystagmography;

(12)  performing biometrics and doing calculations for intraocular lenses;

(13)  performing ocular photography;

(14)  performing refraction;

(15)  testing visual aids and ensuring follow-up for rehabilitation of low vision.

O.C. 773-2004, s. 4.

5. A student duly enrolled in any orientation and integration program leading to a certificate contemplated in the first paragraph of section 2, may perform, pursuant to section 4, any activities that may be performed by an orthoptist insofar as they are required for the completion of this program.

O.C. 773-2004, s. 5.

6. (Omitted).

O.C. 773-2004, s. 6.

REFERENCES

O.C. 773-2004, 2004 G.O. 2, 2536