re: Are we sure optometrists should do eye surgery w/o going to medical school?

No, the cardiologist and CT surgeon graduated medical school..

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The senate will pass HB1065 +/- SB 568 allowing them to cut on Human eyes after a 4 day course in Oklahoma if we do call our senators to stop this!

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Oh well, golly gee, give me the phone number right now!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have the opponents of this legislation even read the bill? It passed the house overwhelmingly 66-32. It got out of the senate committee yesterday 7-1. This legislation is not being rammed down anyone's throat and it is not being done under the cover of darkness. The legislator's understand what this bill entails. I (Egad), an OD performed 4 surgeries today as defined by CMS.. Punctual plugs, anterior stromal puncture on a peripheral corneal erosion, removal of a conjunctival foreign body, and irrigation of cannalicular system. This bill does allow for expansion of scope of practice including YAG capsulotomys, peripheral iridotomies, SLT, as well as LID injections for the removal of a chalazion. That's about it. The only ODs that will perform these lasers are the ones with the equipment. I will benefit as my partner is a supportive ophthalmologist who needs to be in our surgery center doing cataract surgery and blepharoplasties instead of doing a YAG or chalazion removal. I know my limitations (so do my colleagues) and am no "cowboy". To suggest these simplistic procedures are out of my scope is simply ludicrous and insulting. Believe it or not, I did not spend 4 years of optometry school and 1 year of residency learning how to refract. Hell, I can teach an ophthalmologist to refract in about 10 minutes. I hate to be the voice of reason here, but my practice is a model of a synergistic relationship between OMD/OD. We work together for the common good of the patient and allowance of these procedures will significantly increase effeciency and decrease unnecessary in house referrals.

He operated on himself.

J/k man

Seriously though, I obviously don't know about optometry/ophthalmology to the extent you do, so I will defer to you on this. I just want these operations to be safe for the patients, and not just about saving money and/or a "turf war."

These "operations" are in office procedures. Uncomplicated and extremely safe. I know and trust my training. I will refer out if I'm not comfortable. I have a wife and 3 kids to care for. I will not jeopardize our future for the sake that I can now "operate". The safety of my patients, fear of legal action, and love of my family will guide my decisions.

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To suggest these simplistic procedures are out of my scope is simply ludicrous and insulting. Believe it or not, I did not spend 4 years of optometry school and 1 year of residency learning how to refract. Hell, I can teach an ophthalmologist to refract in about 10 minutes. I hate to be the voice of reason here, but my practice is a model of a synergistic relationship between OMD/OD. We work together for the common good of the patient and allowance of these procedures will significantly increase effeciency and decrease unnecessary in house referrals.

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This is exactly how it will play out in most instances. The MD's that embrace it will profit from this as well as the OD. It's win win. Just as we have with NP's and PA's. I can spend my time on sicker more complicated pt's and office procedures instead of tending to routine med checks and head colds. Not to mention I've had one of mine certified in diabetic foot care. She fills a need that I didn't have the time to address. Now pt's don't have to drive an hour or two to get nails clipped or calluses trimmed. It pays enough to make it worth her time but not mine. As a result, she makes more and so do I. The patients benefit by a wider range of services and easier access to care.

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ETA: found it interesting because of the assessment variation in relation to surgery.

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I'm not sure of the relevance there. Unless I'm misreading, the optometrist would be referring those cases elsewhere. Presumably the consulting opthamologist would complete any appropriate additional testing prior to surgery.

The next thing they'll legislate will be cataract surgery.


There you go doc. If y'all can't make a logical argument then just jump to illogical conclusions and make crap up. Never will an OD do cataract surgery. Because of my practice pattern, I am one of the most aggressive optometrists that you would meet and I would NEVER consider opening up someone's eye.

Yag capsulotomy, peripheral iridotomy, laser trabeculoplasty