Ophthalmologists, medical groups oppose Senate Bill 36’s proposed surgical scope for optometrists

Columbus — Ophthalmologists, the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) and other physician groups told the Ohio Senate Health Committee on Tuesday that Senate Bill 36’s proposed expansions of optometrists’ authority to perform lasers, injections and invasive eyelid procedures raise patient-safety concerns and are unlikely to improve access to care.

Monica Hickel, speaking for OSMA, told Chairman Huffman, Vice Chair Johnson and the committee she and other physician groups have occasionally reached neutrality on scope-of-practice bills but that "surgery is a line in the sand" for organized medicine. "When you are doing surgical procedures, you need the most educated and trained individual doing those procedures and those individuals in the state of Ohio are physicians," Hickel said.

The doctors who testified described the types of procedures listed in the bill and detailed specific risks. Nicole Byach, an ophthalmologist and secretary‑treasurer of the Ohio Ophthalmological Society, said the bill as drafted would make Ohio among the most permissive states for optometry surgical privileges and warned that other jurisdictions’ permissive practices have led to adverse outcomes. "Patient safety and outcomes aren't just about learning the technique…