Senate committee advances bill to let optometrists perform certain in-office laser eye procedures

Supporters told the Senate Judiciary Committee that House Bill 36 would expand optometrists' scope of practice to allow in‑office laser procedures for post‑cataract care and for prevention and treatment of glaucoma, arguing the change would improve access and reduce travel and wait times for New Mexico patients.

The bill would require the New Mexico Board of Optometry to develop credentialing standards and a public rule‑making process for optometrists who wish to perform the specified laser procedures, supporters said. ‘‘These procedures are taught at all schools and colleges of optometry, and our training has been proven safe and effective,’’ said Dr. Sarah Voorz, past president of the New Mexico Optometric Association, citing what she described as 146,000 procedures performed by optometrists in other states and a low reported adverse‑event count.

Opponents — mainly ophthalmologists, a retina surgeon and a patient who said she was harmed by a YAG procedure performed by an optometrist in another state — urged the committee to reject the expansion on patient‑safety grounds. ‘‘There’s a critical difference in our training,’’ said Dr. Rebecca Laneher, president of the New Mexico Academy of Ophthalmology. Laneher described laser complications that she said can require emergency surgical intervention and said state Department of Health filings express concerns about patient safety when lasers are used by practitioners she characterized as insufficiently trained.

Patient testimony highlighted those safety concerns. Vicky Rutledge, who identified herself as a patient treated in Oklahoma, told the committee she lost central vision after a YAG laser procedure performed by an optometrist. ‘‘I am living proof that lack of knowledge and proper training in our vision health care providers is both dangerous and preventable,’’ she said.

Ophthalmology witnesses pointed to studies and exhibits they submitted to the committee. Melissa Lobato, executive director of the New Mexico Academy of Ophthalmology, cited a paper in the opposition packet that, in her description, found no access‑to‑care benefit in five states and reported a decline in rural optometrists in one analysis. Nathaniel Roybal, a retina surgeon, said most practicing optometrists have counted training hours on models rather than live patients and emphasized that surgical skills are developed under the supervision of experienced eye surgeons.

Committee members questioned both sides about the amount and format of training and whether credentialing rules adopted by the New Mexico Board of Optometry would address the committee’s concerns. Senator Duhigg pressed for specifics on how much of current optometry training is hands‑on versus model‑based; supporters said training varies by school and that the board’s credentialing process would set the state standard and include a public hearing.

After testimony and questions the committee took a roll‑call action and moved the bill forward. The committee recorded affirmative votes from Senators Brantley, Dunhill, Paul, Stewart, Wirth and Chair Cervantes and the clerk announced a do‑pass recommendation.