Safe Eyes America (safeeyesamerica.org) is a patient organization dedicated to ensuring the delivery of the highest quality eye care to the public.  On behalf of the organization and the citizens that we represent, it is completely beyond comprehension that a lowering of the standards for performing eye surgery on patients eyes is even under consideration.  Without a doubt, patients deserve only the highest quality, SAFE eye surgery. Allowing optometrists to perform laser eye surgery without direct, live in person supervision of training on actual patients is simply unacceptable.  There is no substitute that could possibly ensure safety for patients.  Please do not consider allowing lowering of the standards for safe care of the eyes of patients and their vision.  Patients must be protected by safe standards for their eye care.  Direct supervision of actual surgical procedures is absolutely required for patient safety. No patient should be subjected to having their eyes and vision being “the first” surgical experience for their eye surgeon.