The Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) is urging lawmakers to nix a bill that would expand optometrists’ scope of practice.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Alex Rizo (HB 449), would allow optometrists to “perform board-approved laser and non-laser ophthalmic procedures” and hold themselves out as “optometrists certified in ophthalmic procedures” in advertising.

Ophthalmologists and optometrists have battled for years over the scope of their respective professions, with the former staunchly opposing scope expansion for the latter.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have completed a residency to specialize in eye care, including the diagnosis and treatment of all maladies affecting the eyes. Optometrists, while highly trained, do not attend medical school and are primarily focused on eyesight and the prescription of corrective lenses.

Allowing optometrists to perform more advanced procedures would endanger patients, ophthalmologists argue. Similar to other scope of practice battles, those backing the change say it would boost health care access.

“Optometrists play an important role in eye health care, providing essential services such as vision testing, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting certain eye conditions. However, their scope of practice typically does not include surgical procedures involving lasers, scalpels, or injections on or around the eye. These advanced interventions require the specialized medical education, extensive surgical training, and clinical expertise of ophthalmologists,” said Dr. Raquel Goldhardt, the President of FSO.

“Patient well-being should remain the paramount consideration in any decisions affecting eye care practices. It is advisable to maintain the current system of collaborative care between optometrists and ophthalmologists, which has proven effective in providing comprehensive eye health services to patients.”

FSO pointed to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on a type of laser surgery to treat glaucoma. It found that patients who receive the treatment from an optometrist are significantly more likely to require additional surgery. FSO further cited incidents of “sight threatening complications” following optometrist-administered procedures in other states, including Oklahoma, Louisiana and Kentucky.

The association said that if a patient ultimately requires a second or subsequent surgery to rectify complications from the first, patients will invariably pay more for care.

“Health care costs are already high enough and this bill would increase incurred costs for patients, which could result in driving insurance rates even higher,” said Dr. Darby Miller, legislative Co-Chair of FSO. “We urge lawmakers to reconsider this costly legislation and ensure that patients can receive safe and affordable eyecare.”

HB 449 is scheduled to go before the House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee Wednesday afternoon. It is the first of three committee references for the bill, which currently has no Senate companion.

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As Senate leaders promote a “Rural Renaissance” this Legislative Session, lawmakers are set to spotlight Florida’s farming communities during Rural Counties Day.

Senate President Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, and Sen. Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican, will headline the event Thursday.

Albritton, whose farming roots run deep, is the Senate’s “Rural Renaissance” leader. Simon, meanwhile, is carrying a major piece of legislation (SB 110) as part of that push.

The networking event will take place this Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Albritton and Simon will also be present at a noon press conference on the steps of the Old Capitol in the Capitol Courtyard.

The 29 participating counties include Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Okeechobee, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.

Representatives from those regions will “showcase their communities’ unique contributions to the state,” per a Wednesday release promoting the event.

Albritton has made it a point to help resuscitate the Florida Heartland during his two-year tenure as Senate President. That included a promise this month to ensure the Legislature aids the state’s citrus industry, which has dealt with serious challenges in recent years, including major storms and citrus greening.

Announcing his “Rural Renaissance” push late last year, Albritton said his connections to Florida’s farmers have made him acutely aware of their struggles.

“Technological advances have led to tremendous economic growth and innovation in other parts of Florida. It’s rural Florida’s turn,” Albritton said.

“With your support, I want to make certain that Floridians who call our rural communities home … have access to all the opportunities the rest of Florida has to offer.”

That effort has, in part, relied on Simon’s work. His legislation is heading to the Senate floor after sailing unanimously through its two assigned committee stops.

That bill would raise the threshold for counties to be declared “fiscally constrained,” allowing for extra financial support from the state. The total amount of distributions under that designation would also be increased to at least $50 million per fiscal year.

FloridaCommerce would also house an Office of Rural Prosperity under the proposed measure to assist with planning assistance and help rural counties acquire available government resources.

The legislation would also allocate $1 million block grants to Gadsden, Hardee, Taylor, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Madison and Lafayette counties. All of those counties have lost population in the past decade.

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