Scope of Practice-Optometric Practice Act
CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE & STATE SENATOR TODAYURGE THEM TO VOTE NO ON HB 6166 & SB 2899
Efforts to Allow Optometrists to Perform Surgical Procedures
& Give Medication by Injection
HB 6166 and SB 2899 are bills that would remove the prohibition of surgery in the Optometric Practice Act, allowing optometrists, who are not medical doctors, to perform certain surgical procedures and administer medications via injection.
Please call your state representative in his or her DISTRICT office (listed below) and your state senator in his or her SPRINGFIELD office (listed below) today and emphasize the following arguments against the bills:
Patients often do not understand the difference in the education and training between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, and this expansion of scope via legislation will further blur that line. This is not in the public's best interest and will threaten patient safety.
OPTOMETRISTS ARE NOT PHYSICIANS.
Optometrists do not attend medical school, nor do they complete a residency in medicine and surgery. Optometric training is in no way comparable to that of an ophthalmologist, who is a medical doctor with three to five years of additional eye disease training with real patients after completing their general medical education.
OPHTHALMOLOGIST PHYSICIANS PERFORM THESE SERVICES FOR ILLINOISANS.
There is no need or public demand for this massive expansion. Illinois citizens are not deprived of competent eye surgery services provided by our state's highly trained eye physicians and surgeons.
The proposals in HB 6166/SB 2899 would make Illinois one of the most permissive states in the nation in terms of allowing optometrists to perform medical procedures.
THE PROPOSED SURGICAL PROCEDURES AND INJECTIONS
ARE NOT SIMPLE PROCEDURES.
One proposed procedure to be performed by optometrists is the chalazion treatment, which could require an incision on the inner lid of the eye. Injections - including subcutaneous, subconjunctival, and intramuscular injections - would be allowed. These are complicated procedures that should be performed by a trained physician.
Further, the treating physician must be prepared for any and all complications arising from the technique, including infections, severe glaucoma, cataracts, bleeding in the eye, or a rupture of the eye itself. These complications will need immediate attention by the treating physician. Optometrists are not trained for or capable of handling these complications.
Senator Michael Connelly (R-IL-021)
(217) 782-8192 (Capitol)
(630) 682-8101 (District)
Senator Chris Nybo (R-IL-024)
(217) 782-8148 (Capitol)
(630) 969-0990 (District)
Representative Jeanne Ives (R-IL-042)
(217) 558-1037 (Capitol)
(630) 384-1108 (District)
Representative Peter Breen (R-IL-048)
(217) 782-8037 (Capitol)
(630) 403-8135 (District)