South Dakota’s scope win brings the number of laser states up to 12 for the optometry profession. YAG capsulotomy and SLT are allowed there, plus three injection procedures and IPL.

South Dakota’s scope win brings the number of laser states up to 12 for the optometry profession. YAG capsulotomy and SLT are allowed there, plus three injection procedures and IPL. Photo: Nate Lighthizer, OD. Click image to enlarge.

Come July 1, optometrists in South Dakota (SDOS) can begin training to offer several advanced procedures involving use of lasers and injectable therapies as well as intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for dry eye. On Monday, Gov. Kristi Noem signed the state’s scope expansion bill (HB 1099) into law.

This action brings the tally of optometric laser states up to 12, following the recent recognition of Wisconsin’s use of such procedures under a broadly worded scope law, plus the previous 10 states with explicit legislation to that effect and now South Dakota’s milestone in the same vein.

According to a statement released by the South Dakota Optometric Society, HB 1099 permits optometric performance of SLT for glaucoma and YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsular opacification after cataract surgery. It also allows the following three injectable procedures:

  • Use of Botox around the eye for a medical purpose only. 
  • Use of a steroid by injection to treat a chalazion. 
  • Use of an anesthetic by injection to remove a pedunculated skin tag.

The bill also resolves a dispute over the use of IPL by optometrists in South Dakota. That right was earned last October but the state medical association initiated a lawsuit to prohibit it. “The case was pending at bill introduction and including it in the bill clears up the lawsuit,” the release from the society explains.

“Despite all of these procedures being taught in every optometric college in the nation since at least 2015, optometrists are required to complete a three-part ‘prove up’ process to perform any added procedure,” the SDOS statement continues. The “prove up” process included in the bill requires:

  • Passage of a national examination on laser procedures and a national examination on injection procedures (graduates prior to July 1, 2024 are grandfathered in).
  • Passage of a 32-hour certification course to demonstrate competency on each of the added procedures.
  • Hands-on demonstration of the procedures on at least five human eyes for eyelid procedures and SLT and 10 human eyes for YAG under the direct supervision of an ophthalmologist or authorized optometrist to prove competency in each of the procedures.

“I am so proud of our member doctors for the support they provided in passing this bill,” said SDOS President-Elect Ashley Crabtree, OD, in the statement released to the media. “When asked, they responded and met with legislators, texted, called and emailed. Several ODs made the trip to the state Capitol to lobby legislators and testify in committee. Our board also allocated resources to put together a great lobbying team led by our Executive Director, Deb Mortenson. We also had a robust social media and digital ad campaign to support the effort.”