Is this true?

[fkajoshaj]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys, I heard a rumor that Opticians will probably be allowed to refract patients in the near future? A lot of opticians, especially in brooklyn, ny, already do refract lol even though they are not lisenced to, they still do. If this is true, would that mean Optometrists would get to expand their scope of practice with perhaps lasik? I know that only Oklahoma is the only state that optometrists can do some sort of surgery (i think lasik). That would really suck if Opticians do get to refract. That would ruin the business for Optometrists (since most of the income comes from refraction- selling glasses/contacts).

I am sure you all have heard of this rumor. I didnt make it up lol

 

[eyestrain]

I'm not worried about it.

 

[fkajoshaj]

and why not eyestrain? lol what information do you have to feel so confident to say that?

 

[eyestrain]

and why not eyestrain? lol what information do you have to feel so confident to say that?

My gut. It's never been wrong before.

 

[JMU07]

Are they refracting without a doctor checking behind them? Because if not, I have a feeling they're probably causing a lot of re-checks and re-makes to be done.

 

[362.04]

This isn 't particularly new right now. In fact, all kinds of non optometrists have been refracting for over 40-50 years. What any kind of new law might do is to permit them outside of any kind of direct supervision by a more competent authority.

I believe that independent sight testing is likely to be a state-by-state battle. Unlike the optometric battles where patient access for medical care has been an issue, I don't believe there is any kind of patient access issue with refractions. One can say that there a lot of optometrists out there right now.

 

[fkajoshaj]

Yes JMU07, the opticians in brooklyn that have their own optical shop are refracting without doctors. I guess they do it so they dont have to pay an optometrist.

 

[fkajoshaj]

eyestrain, you have a gut feeling? you must have a big gut then haha jk 😀

 

[stonegoat]

In BC, Canada, where I practice, opticians have been "sight-testing" for about 8-10 years without OD or MD supervision. Even in the town where I practice there is a sight-tester. I don't know how many patients I lose, but not many, because I am extremely busy, and getting busier all the time. I have a very professional private practice, and most people seem to know the difference. I really don't have any desire to see the type of patient who want a "free" sight-test and a $99 pair of PALs.
There are two Wal-Mart locations in BC that have opticals where there are sight-testers and no ODs...this is fairly new, but I see this trend continuing, as opticians are much more "flexable" in their practice modalities than are ODs.
I am not worried, but I might be if I was a corporate OD working for a bottom-feeder....so easily replaced.