re: Optometry: LA HB 1065/SB 568: What if your Louisiana Eye Surgeon is NOT an MD?

How much of the first four years are devoted STRICTLY to the eye and performing these surgeries?

Still waiting for an answer on this one.

Systemic things show up in the eye. DM, HTN, cancer, skin cancer, viruses, bacteria, inflammatory conditions, sarcoidosis, thyroid disease, trauma, neuropathy, brain conditions, seizure symptoms, etc, etc, etc. Tons of things from the 4 years of medical school apply to the eye. What do you think we're studying giant squids?

Most of the training for laser surgery is during the 4+ years of residency/fellowship training. But there is some exposure to lasers in med school in ophthalmology rotations

4 years spent completely on patient care

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Most of the training for laser surgery is during the 4+ years of residency/fellowship training.

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So you are saying you can learn to do surgery in four years...

No, there is much exposure to surgery in medical school.

I'm saying (like every state in America says) that you can practice eye surgery in America after learning the human body and doing a residency in ophthalmology (total of 8 years minimum).

No I'm not questioning it at all. I have a lot of respect for medical doctors and even more so for Ophthalmologists.

However I know of four Optometrists that are also Ophthalmologists meaning they attended both medical school and optometry school. All four of them state that what is taught in Optometry school to perform THESE procedures is on par or above what is taught in medical school. However all we hear is that that training is worthless in most places in this thread.

My point is that in four years of medical school most MD's spend about 2-3 weeks AT MOST on the eye, then learn 90% of the skills needed for the eye in four years. Which is the length of Optometry school which focuses solely on the eye and how it interacts with the body, along with refracting,diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and performing these procedures among many other things.

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And you think thats what Optometry school is?

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Yes, we aren't talking about retinal surgery, refractive surgery, among the many other procedures prohibited in this bill. We are talking about a few in office procedures that Optometry has an impeccable track record performing. However in your eyes there is only one way to learn these procedures, I think that is incorrect.

Here is UC Berlkey Optometry School Curriculum. Nothing but surgery here

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Optometry 200A: Clinical Examination of the Visual System

Vision Science 203A: Geometrical Optics

Vision Science 205: Visual Perception and Sensitivity

Vision Science 206A: Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye

Vision Science 206D. Neuroanatomy/Neurophysiology of the Eye & Visual System

SPRING
Optometry 200B. Clinical Examination of the Visual System

Optometry 213: Evidence Based Optometry

Optometry 270A. Eyecare Business and Professional Management I

Vision Science 203B. Optical System and Physical Optics

Vision Science 206B. Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye and Visual System

Vision Science 206C. Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye and Visual System

Vision Science 217. Oculomotor Functions and Neurology

Vision Science 219. Binocular Vision and Space Perception

Second-Year Curriculum (34 units)

FALL
Optometry 200C. Clinical Examination of the Visual System

Optometry 222A. Optics of Ophthalmic Lenses

Optometry 226A. Systemic Pharmacology

Optometry 236A. Systemic Disease and Its Ocular Manifestations

Optometry 270B. Eyecare Business and Professional Management II

Vision Science 215. Infant Vision

SPRING
Optometry 200D. Clinical Examination of the Visual System

Optometry 222B. Ophthalmic Optics and Environmental Vision

Optometry 226B. Ocular Pharmacology

Optometry 236B. Systemic Disease and Its Ocular Manifestations

Optometry 240. Diagnosis and Treatment of Sensory/Motor Anomalities

Optometry 260A. Contact Lenses: Examination of the Contact Lens Patient

Third-Year Curriculum (42.5 units)

SUMMER
Optometry 430A. Optometry Clinics

FALL
Optometry 241. Advanced Management & Rehabilitation of Sensory/Motor Anomalies

Optometry 246. Diagnosis and Treatment of Anterior Segment Ocular Disease

Optometry 251. Low Vision

Optometry 430B. Optometry Clinic

Optometry 435. Advanced Procedures in Ocular Disease Diagnosis

SPRING
Optometry 256. Diagnosis and Treatment of Posterior Segment Ocular Disease

Optometry 270C. Eyecare Business and Professional Management III

Optometry 430C. Optometry Clinic

Fourth-Year Curriculum (49 units)

SUMMER
Optometry 440A. Advanced Optometry Clinic

Optometry 441A. Specialty Clinics

FALL
Optometry 440B. Advanced Optometry Clinic

Optometry 441B. Specialty Clinics

Optometry 450A. Grand Rounds and Seminar

SPRING
Optometry 440C. Advanced Optometry Clinic

Optometry 441C. Specialty Clinics

Optometry 450B. Grand Rounds and Seminar

Optometry 452. Current Concepts in Ocular Disease

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I can get two that are in them right now to join and post on here if you like, one at LSU the other at Harvard.

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ok