I thought the general rule was if you don't have to close it up with sutures then you can do it...😕
I am not sure where you heard that, but I would recheck your sources. Optometry is a profession that is governed by state laws rather than "general rules." However, I am not aware of any state that allows optometrists to perform any surgery or procedure simply because it does not require sutures. If that were the case, optometrists would be doing LASIK, lumbar punctures, retinal laser photocoagulation, retrobulbar blocks, abscess I&Ds, etc.
If the only difference between optometry training and ophthalmology training was that ophthalmologists learn how to throw sutures, I would be the first to advocate merging the two professions. But the differences between the two professions extend beyond the ability to close a surgical wound with sutures.
Every part of a surgery is important. This includes pre-operative evaluation/counseling, preparation, anesthesia, incision, the actual procedure, closure, perioperative care, and post-operative follow-up. Closure is imporant, but it is only part of the big picture. It's the stuff that happens between incision and closure that can really rock someone's world -- in a good way or a bad way. That being said, all the other components can affect outcomes as well. Poor counseling can lead to inappropriate expectations and poor perceived outcomes. Improper preparation of a surgical field can lead to complications. Improper anesthesia can be deleterious in many ways. Poor incisions will affect closure and healing. Bad closure can lead to dehiscence of the wound, suture granulomas, etc. Poor follow-up care will cause failure of early detection of post-op complications. Surgery, no matter how minor you think it is, can be more complicated than initially thought. A good surgeon goes into a procedure with not only a plan A and a plan B, but plans A, B, C, D, E, etc. Things can go awry, and a surgeon should anticipate these complications and be able to adapt. I would argue that anyone who trivializes surgery has no business doing surgery.
