Since the passage in 1971 of the first statutory law specifically authorizing optometrist to utilize pharmaceutical agents in the practice of their profession, optometry's responsibility and relationship to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been poorly defined. This paper describes the function of the Drug Enforcement Administration and proposes a strengthened optometric relationship with this important federal agency. Optometry's further development as a provider of primary eye and vision are services depends, in part, on this unique relationship.
