OKLAHOMA CITY, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oklahoma Board of Examiners in Optometry recently adopted a permanent rule that allows for optometrists, who are not medical or osteopathic physicians to perform over 100 scalpel surgical procedures. Despite objections from the medical community and contrary to a commitment made by Governor Henry to allow for input by the medical and osteopathic communities, the optometry board took it upon themselves to draft and approve a rule that significantly expands the scope of practice for optometrists.
“We are disappointed by the board’s action and vow to fight to ensure that this rule is rejected by the Governor and the legislature. The real losers in this battle are Oklahoma patients, who, under this rule, will be subjected to a standard of care that is below that of the rest of the nation,” said Dr. Ann Warn, an ophthalmologist from Lawton and President of the Oklahoma Academy of Ophthalmology.
Oklahoma is the only state in the nation that allows non-physicians to perform eye surgery. The procedures allowed under this rule include the use of scalpels and insertion of needles directly into the eye. If the governor and the legislature do not act to reject this regulation, the quality and safety of surgical eye care for Oklahoma’s patients will be at risk.
“Oklahoma patients must beware. Just because your optometrist wears a white coat and calls him or herself a doctor, doesn’t mean that they are trained to do surgery. We, as medical and osteopathic physicians, rely on many years of schooling and training, including long internships and residencies, to learn how to treat the whole patient. To suggest that someone might attend a weekend course at a hotel on how to do scalpel surgery on your eye and then, legally be able to perform that procedure on patients is frightening. This is a crisis in the making. We hope Governor Henry and the legislature will intervene and reject this rule,” added Dr. Mukesh Parekh, President of the Oklahoma State Medical Association.
The American Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons are focused on preserving patient safety and quality of care for all of Oklahoma’s surgical eye care patients and urge Governor Henry and the legislature to reject this rule.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
CONTACT: Scott Mitchell of American Academy of Ophthalmology,+1-405-947-2462