Given the relative lack of ophthalmologists in Virginia compared with optometrists, combined with optometrists’ robust education levels including continuing education, it makes no sense to delay the laser measure.  Doing so would significantly increase the burden on Virginians who need this vital treatment modality.  Further, it would significantly increase the existing delay of care for procedures that must be performed by ophthalmologists such as cataract surgery.  By the time I was able to get in with ophthalmology for my rapidly progressing cataracts (within 3 months of diagnosis, my eye sight was 20/100 in one eye and 20/40 in the other), I was to the point of having to stop driving altogether.  If I had to wait any longer because my ophthalmologist was busy with laser procedures that optometrists could not do, I would have had to quit work due to inability to drive as well as difficulty with managing our electronic medical record system.  As it was, it took 5 months to go through the process to have surgery.