Optometry doctors are primary care specialists who are trained to diagnose and treat vision defects, eye conditions, signs of injury, and general eye health problems. They receive formal optometric education and state licenses that enable them to perform specific procedures within their scope of practice. The last major change in the field of practice for optometrists occurred in 2002 with the signing of HB 5552, also known as the “Therapeutic Care Legislation”. This allowed optometrists in Arkansas to perform minor ophthalmic surgeries, such as eyelid, appendage or visual system procedures, as well as the use of ophthalmic lasers.
This made Arkansas the fifth state to do so. Since then, many bills have been passed that expand the scope of application for optometrists and are being implemented in every state. In Alaska, where people and communities are so dispersed, giving optometrists more consulting privileges makes treatment accessible to thousands of Alaskans who may not have been able to access it before. Optometrists in this southern state have been performing laser procedures since 1998, and they practice in the first state, allowing them to do so with one of the best practice laws in the country. The field of practice in the field of optometry in the United States is moving in a positive and exciting direction for doctors, healthcare workers, patients and communities, especially those in the least populated areas of the country. Bill Walker gives the Alaska Optometry Examination Board the authority to draft regulations that allow general practitioners in the state to practice everything they have been taught in optometry schools, including using lasers and performing surgical procedures. Expanding the scope of practice for optometrists across America is an ongoing process that is hindered by the fact that each profession is legislated on a state by state basis.
However, especially over the past decade, many states have succeeded in passing laws that expand the practice privileges of optometrists, which improves access to care. Because of their job nature, it's easier for optometrists than for ophthalmologists to successfully practice in rural areas with fewer people. With a state-granted license, optometrists can only perform procedures that are within their scope of practice. Co-management is an important part of expanding the scope of practice for optometrists. Co-managed treatment may include addressing agreed complications of surgical procedures that occur in any ocular or adnexal structure with permitted topical and oral medications.
In cases where patients are under 18 years old, their primary care provider must agree to allow for joint treatment of complications. The expanding scope of practice for optometrists is a positive development for both doctors and patients alike. It allows optometrists to provide more comprehensive care to their patients while also allowing them to practice in rural areas where access to care may be limited. With more states passing laws that expand the scope of application for optometrists, it's likely that this trend will continue into the future.