| 1896 |
Lincoln Medical College (a department of Cotner University in Lincoln) issues its first diploma in optometry 1898 AOA established (originally American Association of Opticians) |
| 1901 |
Michigan enacts the nation's first optometry law |
| 1903 |
Use of title 'optometrist' is endorsed across the country |
| 1905 |
Nebraska Association of Jewelers and Optometrists organized |
| 1906 |
First state law passed in Nebraska regulating practice of optometry |
| 1910 |
American Association of Opticians changes its name to American Optical Association |
| 1918 |
American Optical Association changes its name to American Optometric Association |
| 1922 |
American Academy of Optometry founded |
| 1935 |
Nebraska Optometric Association establishes nation's first department of research; it becomes American Research Council of Optometry in 1936 |
| 1952 |
American Optometric Association opens its Washington, D.C. office |
| 1965 |
Nebraska legislature establishes requirement of 16 hours of C.E. for licensure |
| 1969 |
First Nebraska optometrist seated on State Board of Health |
| 1970 |
Nebraska Attorney General ruling allows ODs to engage in the practice of orthoptics |
| 1973 |
Mid-Plains Vocational Technical College in North Platte graduates first class from its optometric assistants program |
| 1974 |
Nebraska legislature creates optometry school contract program |
| 1977 |
NOA's first "eye drop bill" dies at the end of the legislative session |
| 1979 |
Nebraska legislature enacts LB9, allowing ODs to use topical diagnostic pharmaceutical agents 1982 NO/6s first TPA bill is introduced; it passes the next year but is vetoed by the governor |
| 1986 |
Congress enacts legislation giving ODs parity with MDs for reimbursement of vision care services under medicare |
| 1986 |
Nebraska legislature enacts LB131, allowing ODs to use topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents 1990 NOAs first in a series of glaucoma bills is introduced, and dies |
| 1993 |
Nebraska legislature enacts LB429, allowing ODs to use oral pharmaceutical agents |
| 1996 |
Nebraska legislature enacts LB369, allowing ODs to treat glaucoma |
| 1999 |
NOA first introduces legislation to require eye exams for children entering school |
| 2001 |
NOA introduces and passes LB440 to create requirements regarding sales of mail order contact lenses 2005 Nebraska legislature enacts LB 114, requiring vision evaluations for children entering school |
| 2005 |
'100' Anniversary of NOA |
| 2007 |
Nebraska legislature enacts LB398 as a cleanup of the optometry statutes. the bill is the result of a joint effort by NOA and the Nebraska Board of Optometry to simplify the patchwork of educational requirements, deadlines, and exemptions that exist in current statute and eliminate references to specific courses and tests that no longer exist. Minor corrections and clarifications to the bill are enacted the following year in LB972. |
| 2009 |
The "Operation Prairie Fire" initiative is launched with the introduction of LB417 seeking authority for non-excluded laser & non-laser surgical procedures, injections, and dispensing and prescribing of medicated contact lenses. Credentialing (407) review begins relative to the proposed scope expansion and is completed in 2010. LB417 dies at the end of the session in 2010. |
| 2010 |
Nebraska legislature enacts LB941 to authorize optometrists to prescribe medicated contact lenses |
| 2011 |
LB316 is introduced as a scaled-back version of LB417, seeking authority for 3 specific laser procedures, injections, minor eyelid procedures, oral steroids & anti-glaucoma agents. It does at the end of the session the following year. |
| 2011 |
Optometry School Contract Program is de-funded by the legislature (LB334) due to budget pressures, despite opposition from NOA |
| 2013 |
Operation Prairie Fire initiative continues with the introduction of companion bills. LB526, authorizing oral steroids, oral anti-glaucoma agents, and injections for anaphylaxis, ultimately passes in 2014. LB527, authorizing certain minor surgical procedures, dies at the end of the 2014 session. |
| 2016 |
Nebraska legislature enacts Consumer Protection in Eyecare Act (LB235), creating requirments for operation of "kiosks" and other online technologies for examining the eye. |
