In his Feb. 4 opinion piece, “Eye surgery should be left to the experts,” Dr. Michael Keverline blurred the lines of reality regarding critical legislation that will help Virginians see more clearly.
During this year’s General Assembly, legislators are considering optometry legislation to allow Virginia’s optometrists to perform three in-office laser procedures to treat glaucoma and provide after-cataract surgery care. These procedures can already be performed by optometrists in eight other states — but in Virginia, can only be completed by an ophthalmologist. Contrary to what Dr. Keverline suggests, these procedures are low-risk and effective treatments that allow patients to quickly resume living, working and driving with better vision – and will become more in-demand as Virginia’s population ages.
