It is unclear why the standard is not the same as other surgical procedures, with proctored education which benefits both providers and patients. No one is arguing that optometrists are not highly educated, but for a hands-on potentially blinding procedure when performed incorrectly, I do not think practice on a plastic model is enough. As the Board of Optometry finalizes the regulations for laser surgery certification, as a concerned ophthalmologist I would recommend amending the draft regulations to reflect a proctoring process that requires both didactic and live proctored cases, whether or not a plastic model is involved.