California governor vetoes expanded scope for optometrists
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CHICAGO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed optometrists in the state to use therapeutic lasers and perform other procedures.
Stephen D. McLeod, MD, announced the decision while moderating a panel at Eyecelerator@AAO and called the veto a win for patient safety.
The bill, AB 2236, would have granted California optometrists new privileges such as performing selective laser trabeculoplasty, laser peripheral iridotomy and laser posterior capsulotomy. It would have also allowed them to remove lesions and perform corneal cross-linking.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology released a statement on the veto of what it called a “dangerous optometric surgery bill.”
“In a major victory for patient safety, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed optometrists to perform complex eye surgeries with little to no training,” the AAO wrote.
References:
- AB 2236. https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/ca/20212022/bills/CAB00024692/. Updated Sept. 28, 2022. Accessed Sept. 29, 2022.
- Dangerous optometric surgery bill vetoed by California governor. https://www.aao.org/eye-on-advocacy-article/optometric-surgery-bill-ab2236-veto-ca-gov-newsom. Posted Sept. 28, 2022. Accessed Sept. 29, 2022.
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McLeod SD. A wild ride: 2022 in review. Presented at: Eyecelerator@AAO; Sept. 29, 2022; Chicago.
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