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AOA disappointed in restriction on attendance at ASCRS meeting
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In response to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery’s restriction on optometric attendance at the ASCRS Annual Symposium, American Optometric Association President Wesley E. Pittman, OD, stated that the AOA “is not surprised, but is disappointed” with this action.
On July 26 the ASCRS announced in a press release that meeting registration would be “limited to those optometrists directly employed by ophthalmologists or by ophthalmic industry entities.” Continuing its standard meeting policy, those optometrists can only register for the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators Congress. The ASCRS and ASOA plan to continue to allow their respective registrants to attend each other’s presentations and activities.
The ASCRS Executive Committee also approved a provision that optometrists attending the ASOA Congress must sign a statement that attendance in courses, presentations and other meeting events in no way qualifies them to perform surgery, said the press release.
In a prepared statement, Dr. Pittman said the AOA feels it is inappropriate for ASCRS to require optometrists to sign such a statement. “This should be determined by the scope of practice set forth in state laws,” he said.
The AOA welcomes ophthalmologists to its Annual Congress, “Optometry’s Meeting.” Dr. Pittman urged those optometrists who have attended the ASCRS meeting and “have now been insulted by being asked to sign a statement” to come to the AOA Annual Congress.
“The AOA does not require you to sign any statement that insults your professionalism,” Dr. Pittman said. “The continuing education is second to none, and you will be supporting your professional association, which, unlike ASCRS, has high regard for your professional judgment. Optometrists pledge in the optometric oath that one will ‘share information cordially and unselfishly with my fellow optometrists and other professionals for the benefit of patients and the advancement of human knowledge and welfare,’ and would hope other organizations would be willing to do the same.”