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.
If the proposed legislation passes, in addition to Nebraska’s SLT bill, the number of states where optometrists have laser surgical authority would jump to 13.
Guidelines that previously stated that “only” ophthalmologists can perform invasive procedures have been revised to include “or optometrists,” provided the state law allows it.
In a position paper, the AGS cites reasons including “insufficient” training and a lack of evidence to support that scope expansion improves eyecare access.
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.