Optometrists train for nearly 10,000 hours to learn how to diagnose and treat glaucoma, cataracts and other diseases. It’s not uncommon for medical professionals, including optometrists, to participate in continuing education programs to enhance their profession and scope of work. While more is involved than a “weekend course,” when these common laser procedures are combined with other training, they are a part of the overall eye care services provided by optometrists.

All optometrists must be certified in laser procedures before performing them on patients. To be certified, they must have extensive clinical experience, complete hands-on training and pass a national certification exam. 

Virginia has almost 2X more optometrists than ophthalmologists, making access to these procedures less burdensome to the working poor.