• Optometrists are educated, trained and certified to perform the procedures outlined in the regulations

• 12 states include in-office laser procedures by optometrists
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• More than 146,000 procedures have been performed by optometrists across the country
• in-office lasers have been performed by optometrists since the 1990s 

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

• 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.