The visual outcomes from ND Yag can be life-changing to patients. I have rotated through multiple practices in rural Virginia while in school, and there are a considerable number of times patients have to be referred hours away for a simple laser procedure. As a student I can assure you we had multiple courses discussing potential side effects, indications and contraindications for these laser procedures. We are also trained to perform these procedures in our curriculum. Optometrists in more than 10 states are trained and certified to carry out these procedures, and there are no current studies showing negative results.