Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Optometry
 
chapter
Regulations of the Virginia Board of Optometry [18 VAC 105 ‑ 20]
Action Regulations for laser surgery certifications
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ends 10/25/2024
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9/20/24  2:54 pm
Commenter: Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, Virginia Optometric Association

Support for proposal as submitted
 

Twelve states include in-office laser procedures done by optometrists, including a state in which I practiced and safely performed these procedures before moving to Virginia. More than 146,000 procedures have been performed by optometry with no unseen outcomes as shown by Nighthizer N, et al. ND: YAG Laser Capsulotomy: Efficacy and Outcomes performed by Optometrists. Optom Vis Sci 2023 100(10) 665-669. As is currently stands, draft regulations were developed with input from a regulatory advisory panel (RAP) that included input from both Optometrists and Ophthalmologists. I support the draft regulations AS presented without further changes and support the quality assurance review process as presented. 

CommentID: 227880