The public should support this bill because certified Doctors of Optometry are more than qualified to perform these procedures safely on the public. There are eleven other states where Optometrists are already performing Laser procedures. The argument often given is a lack of patient experiences compared to our MD colleagues.  

Graduates of PCO ( my institution) enter the profession with nearly 3,000 hours of clinical experience.

Upon graduation as an optometrist one has had aproximately 2000 patient experiences. Those who do a residency adds another 3000-4000 more patient experiences. These laser procedures can be easily performed by well trained medical optometrists. 

What the public needs to know: 

1. Not all OD’s will want to perform these laser procedures, but those with the highest level of training will and can safely. 

2. Anyone who decides they will perform these procedures will have passed didactic study, clinical training, and pass a board exam and practical on the use of these lasers. Most of us have already had laser courses while in optometry school. 

As one of the first 40 OD’s in the state to be certified on Laser procedures, here is what I can tell the public.

The procedures are not difficult for OD’s to perform as we use these skills every day.  All have mastered the use of a slit lamp biomicroscope and proven competancy with the gonioscopy procedure. Gonioscopy, the procedure of evaluating the anterior chamber angle, is a skill every OD must master to graduate.This procedure takes practice and is challenging to master. Optometrists must demonstrate competance and mastery of this procedure to pass their boards. Use of  the laser is quite easy frankly, once these other  skills are mastered. It really comes down to access to care for Virginias residents, and optometrists are just more accessable to Virginias residents .