This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
AOA president shares state of optometry in US at WCO
CHICAGO – American Optometric Association President Dori M. Carlson, OD, provided a snapshot of the practice of optometry in the United States to attendees here at the annual World Council of Optometry meeting.
“Kentucky and Oklahoma now have privileges to use lasers,” Dr. Carlson said. “The other aspect of Kentucky’s recent law was board autonomy. In the future, their board of optometry can decide what the scope of optometry should be in Kentucky. That’s even bigger than using lasers.”
The legality of health care reform in this country has been challenged, she said. “We might hear a Supreme Court decision this week,” Dr. Carlson said.
“We were able to insert language into the law to ensure a pediatric vision benefit,” she added, “so kids who are insured through state health care exchanges will have access to eye care.”
In light of the fact that the profession of optometry is legislated at the state level, Dr. Carlson noted that several optometrists hold offices in state legislatures, and several are in the process of running for office.
“We have an optometrist who is a U.S. Senator, John Boozman, OD, from Arkansas, and Melvin Shipp, OD, MPH, DrPH, is president of the American Public Health Association. We’ve been doing great things for optometry here in the U.S.”
Dr. Carlson also noted the increase in age-related eye disease and optometry’s role in treating it.
“The incidence of diabetes is expected to double in the next 40 years,” she said. We can provide services to these patients.”