(Pictured above is Erick Henderson, AOSA president, participating in a laser workshop at the Southern College of Optometry)

Doctors of Optometry, who practice throughout North Carolina and are more readily available than ophthalmologists, enable North Carolinians to have local access to safe, quality primary eye health care.

North Carolina’s optometry law has not been significantly updated since 1977, but medicine has dramatically changed in the past 40 years. In order to continue to bring the highest quality eye and vision care to our citizens, our optometry law needs to be updated to reflect the changes in education and technology.

This bill is not about expanding optometric prescriptive authority, nor will it expand the scope of optometry beyond the eye and its appendages (the eyelid, the eyebrows, the conjunctiva and the lacrimal apparatus).

What Does This Bill Do?

·       This bill will expand access to care for all North Carolinians by allowing Doctors of Optometry to perform limited laser procedures in their offices, lessening travel time and expenses for many patients.

·       These in-office procedures do not require general anesthesia.

·       Doctors of Optometry will be able to treat the same conditions that they have always diagnosed without patients having to schedule an appointment with another medical professional, saving them both time and money.

·       It allows use of laser technology to treat conditions that optometrists already manage, including glaucoma and the after-care of cataract surgery. 

·       This will not broaden the scope of what conditions optometrists currently manage and/or treat. Instead it will enable optometrists to utilize the latest technologies to bring their patients the best possible care. 

Procedures Included In This Bill

·       YAG Capsulotomy (YAG) – Common in-office procedure to open cloudy film on lens implant after cataract surgery.

·       Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (PI) – Emergency sight-saving procedure to treat elevated intraocular pressure from glaucoma.

·       Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) – Common in-office procedure to treat elevated intraocular pressure from glaucoma.

·       Removal and Identification of Skin Lesions Around Eye – Common in-office procedure to remove benign lesions around the eye.

Other States Are Leading The Way On This Issue

·       Doctors of Optometry in other states have already been performing these procedures for almost 30 years.

·       The states that have already passed legislation to allow these procedures have seen no increase in malpractice premiums:

o   Oklahoma (1988)– no change in malpractice premiums

o   Kentucky (2011) – no change in malpractice premiums

o   Louisiana (2014) – no change in malpractice premiums

·       Since 1998, Doctors of Optometry in Oklahoma have performed over 25,000 laser surgery procedures with only two reported complaints.

Why Is This Good For North Carolina?

·       This bill will expand access for all North Carolinians by allowing patients to undergo certain procedures at their optometrist’s office when more convenient than the nearest ophthalmology office.

·       Doctors of Optometry have primary practice locations in 88 counties and branch office locations in 98 counties.   

·       Ophthalmologists have primary practice locations in only 60 counties, making it more difficult for some of our citizens to receive the care they need.  

These Procedures Are Already Being Taught in Optometry School

·       Optometry schools have already incorporated these procedures into their curriculum. Students take courses pertaining to various laser procedures, which are further emphasized through workshops where they get hands-on experience.

·       Doctors of optometry receive extensive training in a 4-year program dedicated to learning about the eye and vision care. This is after receiving a 4-year undergraduate degree. Many optometrists in North Carolina have additionally completed residency training.

·       New graduates from optometry school should have the opportunity to use the latest technology and practice to the fullest extent of their training.

·       Optometrists nationwide will benefit from the passing of the Enhanced Access to Eye Care Act in North Carolina because it will further pave the way for other states to follow suit. We must update our laws to allow both established optometrists and new graduates to provide the best and most efficient care to patients.

·       The National Board of Examiners in Optometry will be implementing the LASER and Surgical Procedures Examination in mid-2017 at its National Center for Clinical Testing in Optometry. Both are located in Charlotte, NC.

 

Please Support HB36, the Enhanced Access to Eye Care Act!