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Florida Senate Advances Bill to Ban OD Use of Optometric Physician Title

Similar restrictions would not be put on dentists, chiropractors or podiatrists, since these doctors’ practice acts define them as physicians. The legislation next goes to the house of representatives.
March 16, 2023

Nebraska Introduces Bill to Allow Optometrists to Perform SLT

LB 216 will soon be voted on by the state’s Health and Human Services Committee following last week’s hearing.
January 30, 2023

VA Expands Scope of Practice for Its ODs

Guidelines that previously stated that “only” ophthalmologists can perform invasive procedures have been revised to include “or optometrists,” provided the state law allows it.
November 8, 2022

Industry Payments to Ophthalmologists on the Rise

The highest-funded research products were anti-VEGF agents, glaucoma treatments and IOLs. Just over 200 MDs collectively received two-thirds of the funding.
October 18, 2022

The Case Against Optometry: How Detractors Argue Glaucoma Surgery is for MDs

In a position paper, the AGS cites reasons including “insufficient” training and a lack of evidence to support that scope expansion improves eyecare access.
October 5, 2022

California Passes Historic Bill Allowing Optometric Surgery

The state’s nearly 7,000 ODs will soon have the opportunity to pursue laser procedures, lesion removal, several types of injections and corneal crosslinking.
September 1, 2022

California ODs Prep for Action on Scope Bill

The legislation may face the whole Senate as early as this week, and the COA calls on optometrists to step in and help get it passed.
August 16, 2022

California Scope Bill Advances Through Senate

The legislation would permit ODs to perform three laser surgeries, remove lid lesions, give injections and do corneal crosslinking. Backers say rigorous training requirements might mollify detractors.
July 21, 2022

Affordable Care Act Didn’t Decrease Emergency Eyecare Visits

The good news is that the percentage of uninsured patients decreased from 19% to 14.3%.
July 7, 2022

Scope Expansion Wave Continues as Colorado Becomes 10th Laser State

“As-taught” law brings many new procedures into the fold, better reflecting the capabilities of ODs there, advocates say.
June 9, 2022