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AAO questions VA credentialing and praises Okla. AG
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WASHINGTON — A widespread moratorium on optometric laser surgery in the Veterans Affairs system and statement from the Oklahoma attorney general on scope of practice are the latest developments in the ophthalmic battle to ensure surgical rights stay within the ophthalmic profession.
Last week, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) was notified that VA credentialing sheets in Los Angeles would grant additional surgical rights for optometrists. The AAO was made aware that focal photocoagulation of microvascular fundus lesions; pan-retinal photocoagulation for proliferative retinopathy; and iris neovascularization and parenteral injection of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of complex ocular diseases were listed as procedures optometrists may perform.
According to AAO, in Tuscon, Ariz., YAG capsulotomy is not on an ophthalmologist’s privileging sheet, but is on an optometrist’s. “Local subcutaneous injection of pharmaceutical agents” and “excision of minor lid lesions” also appear on the optometrists’ privileging sheet.
“These surgeries being moved from ophthalmology to optometry’s list of procedures is a huge red flag and validates our argument for grave safety concerns within the VA health system,” said Catherine Cohen, AAO’s vice president of government affairs.
In a related note, in Oklahoma the attorney general released a revised opinion on the scope of optometric surgery. The revised version clearly defines the type of laser procedures optometrists are authorized to perform under Oklahoma law, and LASIK is not one of them, AAO reported in a news release. The revision reiterates that Oklahoma law does not authorize licensed optometrists to perform any surgery other than those specifically identified by law, including some types of anterior segment surgery, such as photorefractive keratectomy.