Please support draft regulations as presented without any changes.  Draft regulations as presented were developed with input from optometry and ophthalmology and should be supported as presented.  I myself served on one of the regulatory panels where discussion by optometry and ophthalmology was allowed prior to voting on recommendations.

Optometrists are educated, trained and certified to perform the procedures outlined in the regulations.  More than 146,000 procedures have been performed by optometrists across the country 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. 

It is important to remember that all people and professions have the ability to learn new skills post-graduation.  Ophthalmologists are not the only profession capable of expanding their skills set.