Thank you for taking comments regarding 22VAC45-51-40.  Eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  Section D1b of this document says that a patient should be diagnosed with an eye disease by a qualified ophthalmologist.  To be more correct, Section D1b should state that the eye disease should be diagnosed by a qualified ophthalmologist AND/OR OPTOMETRIST.  Optometrists are the leading eye care providers, serving a much wider proportion of the people living in the Commonwealth of Virginia compared to ophthalmologists, and our profession is fully capable of diagnosing most all diseases that would qualify a patient for vocational rehabilitation services.  Sincerely, Jen Weigel, OD, FAAO