As an optometrist practicing in Alaska, I 100 percent agree that "Alaska should leave eye surgery to the surgeons; optometrists don't qualify."
I went to optometry school to be a primary eye care provider. I absolutely love my job and the community I serve. I love giving kids their first eye exam; I love getting to know my patients and their families; I love troubleshooting the tricky contact lens case; I love managing and treating ocular diseases like ulcers, iritis and especially dry eye, but most of all, I love that I don't perform surgeries. As Dr. Kelly Lorenz wrote in her commentary of March 15, "It is an honor, a privilege, a stress, and a burden."
Senate Bill 55 would not allow optometrists to perform surgeries.
Section 08.72.278 reads "… (b) A licensee may not perform invasive surgery."
Section 08.72.300 reads "… (6) 'invasive surgery' means requiring penetration through the globe of the eye, extraocular muscle surgery, retina surgery, corneal transplantation, refractive surgery, or cosmetic lid surgery; in this paragraph, 'refractive surgery' includes laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)."
The "health access issue" is real. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are many areas in Alaska that are considered a Medically Underserved Population. According to WebMD, there are 23 ophthalmologists in the state of Alaska. Seventeen of those are in Anchorage, four in Fairbanks, one in Wasilla and one in Soldotna. According to the Alaska Professional Licensing, there are 365 optometrists registered in the state of Alaska (more than half are active). I don't argue the fact that ophthalmologists routinely fly out to many Alaska communities. In many cases these flights are arranged because the optometrist who likely lives in the community made the referral. These patients needed the optometrist to evaluate, diagnose and treat (in this case the treatment is a referral) and the ophthalmologist to perform surgery. Patients need optometrists and ophthalmologists to work together.
Yes, the bill repeals:
Section 08.72.272 (a) … "is prescribed in a quantity that does not exceed four days of prescribed use if it is a controlled substance."
This is replaced with:
Section 08.72.272 (a) "Except as provided in (e) of this section, a licensee may prescribe and use a pharmaceutical agent, including a controlled substance, in the practice of optometry if the pharmaceutical agent is used in a manner consistent with standards adopted by the board in regulation; the standards must include limitations on practice adopted under AS 08.72.278."
So, what is Senate Bill 55 and why does optometry want you to support it? Optometry is the only medical profession in Alaska in which its board doesn't regulate its own development. Simply put, this rewording allows the board to regulate. Dr. Grant Humphreys, an optometrist in Anchorage, said it best: "In every other medical profession, as new technology, training, and procedures develop, their respective boards regulate its development in the state (with restrictions from state statute); except optometry. Optometry must update via state statute and the full legislative process just as we are now doing via SB 55 to change this process and bring optometry into line with other medical professions."
Dr. Lorenz does not fully understand SB 55. She is a passionate ophthalmologist who provides exceptional care to all she serves. This bill would not take that ability away from her or her fellow ophthalmologists. It would not give optometrists the ability to do surgery; this bill would allow optometry to regulate its own development like every other medical profession in this state.
We need both sides of eye care to agree that the patient is the most important part of our profession; instead of fighting each other, optometrists and ophthalmologists need to advocate for the patient by working together.
In conclusion, SB 55 will not allow optometrists to perform surgeries. SB 55 will allow optometrists to deliver the best possible patient care within their scope of practice.
Dr. Angel Husher-Rodriguez is an optometrist practicing in Wasilla. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree with honors at Hawai'i Pacific University and her doctorate in optometry with excellence in low vision from University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry. Dr. Husher had extensive training at the Kansas City VA Medical Center with an emphasis in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Before moving to Alaska, she worked with a cornea/cataract ophthalmologist in Honolulu and a private practice optometry office in Aiea, Hawaii.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com or click here to submit via any web browser.