As we remain vigilant in California, this year’s advocacy successes included the defeat of dangerous optometric surgery legislation in
Alabama, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and West Virginia. And legislation remains active in
Arizona and
New Jersey.
We had setbacks this year, as the state of
Washington enacted a law authorizing optometrists to perform certain eyelid surgeries at the urging of the state’s department of health. An
Iowa bill allowing optometrists to inject anesthesia into the eyelid also passed, despite an aggressive advocacy campaign highlighting the risks to patient safety. The Academy supported both states’ ophthalmological societies in vigorously opposing those legislative threats.
2023 has proven to be the most challenging year yet in fending off dangerous optometric surgery legislation at the state level. To derail these dangerous threats to safe surgical eye care, we must have a robust Surgical Scope Fund. By
donating to the surgical scope fund you’ll help preserve safe surgical eye care in your state by funding the necessary resources for a winning advocacy campaign.