surgery for optometrists

[0bumblebee0]

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I will be starting my first year in September and have been spending a lot of time reading various articles about the over supply in the profession and the legislation's governing the profession. (i am sure i will learn a lot more regarding this issue in Optometry school).

I don't know, maybe i am just being naive but i think there is a lot of potential for this profession to expand. or maybe i was just feeling inspired after reading this article

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/05/23/prl20523.htm

has any one followed up on the bills in Nebraska and Texas?? or any other bills that have expanded the scope of practice?

i also came across this on the M.D. thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=119156
(im sure we all already know how M.D.'s feel about optometrists doing surgery)

and by no means does this post suggest that surgery rights for optometrists will solve the over supply issue.

 

[Roffles]

If you want to do surgery, go to medical school. Also, the way optometry is legislated, most states will never get the chance to do even minor surgeries.

 

[csandova]

If you want to do surgery, go to medical school. Also, the way optometry is legislated, most states will never get the chance to do even minor surgeries.

Agreed 👍

 

[iBunny]

Oklahoma you can do LASIK, Oregon you can use needles for some kind of lid therapy. Off the top of my head. Should we be doing this? Hmmmm something you can chew on with your mentor.

 

[DrVinzKlortho]

ODs in Oklahoma cannot perform LASIK. They can perform surface ablation procedures like PRK and PTK with an excimer laser. Other laser procedures that can be performed in Oklahoma, and now Kentucky, include YAGs/ALTs/SLTs/PIs. Most states allow simple in office procedures like foreign body removal, punctal plugs, and debridement of epi however many would agree (OD, MD/DO) that these are not true surgical procedures but none-the-less they are billed as such. Some states also allow local injections/treatment and excision of chalazion and removal of some superficial 'lumps and bumps'. I'm not going to make an argument for or against ODs performing more invasive procedures--this just outlines the procedures currently within our scope.

 

[Tonometry]

I always like the idea that optometrist is primary eye care rather than surgery. but its nice to know we can do those simpler procedures

on the issue of oversupply, perhaps optometrist can fill other niches like research, case sudies, etc... it seems like those MSc/PhD in vision science are less capable of defending than the MDs in ophthalmology =P