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Optometrists eligible for membership in ASCRS
CHICAGO – Optometrists can now apply for membership to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
At its annual meeting here, the ASCRS announced in a press release a new category of membership that allows optometrists who are employed by an ASCRS member, board-certified ophthalmologist to be considered for membership.
The move anticipates the growing need for efficient, high-quality health care as the US population ages.
In his outgoing address, ASCRS President Edward J. Holland, OSN Cornea/External Disease Board Member, emphasized that the number of Americans with a cataract in one eye could rise to 30 million in the next 7 years.
“In an effort to address this challenge in ophthalmology, the ASCRS board has endorsed the integrated eye care model… In this model, there will be a gradual transition of non-surgical eye care to optometry in order to support a more efficient ophthalmic surgeon,” he said.
“This integrated delivery model will encourage greater efficiency as ophthalmologists and optometrists work together to meet the growing demands for service, as well as address any changes in Medicare and general health care delivery,” Dr. Holland said. “This is a bold and aggressive step, but one that our board agrees is the correct path.”
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