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AAO and VA see eye-to-eye on surgery

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, January 4, 2005

At the urging of ophthalmologists and advocacy groups like the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reinstated a policy that states only qualified ophthalmologists can perform laser eye surgery in VA health facilities.

This directive, issued on December 17, 2004, rescinds a previous directive that allowed optometrists-professionals who specialize in corrective lens prescribing, but generally receive less than half the schooling of surgically-trained ophthalmologists- to perform eye surgery under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. The announcement received praise from the AAO.

"The VA took an important step toward ensuring that our veterans will receive only the highest quality eye care," said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, executive vice president of the AAO, in a statement issued on the AAO's Web site. "Ophthalmologists have the medical education and surgical training necessary for the safe performance of invasive surgical eye procedures. Patient safety triumphed because medical and veterans' organizations took action - they contacted the VA and involved their congressional representatives in order to help protect our veterans."

Despite this directive, the AAO could face a more significant challenge in the state of Oklahoma where, as reported in the October 26 issue of Ambulatory Surgery Regulatory Update, a new law now permits optometrists to perform eye surgery with a scalpel. 

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