The Florida Society of Ophthalmology is pushing back against a bill in the Florida House of Representatives that would expand the scope of practice for optometrists, according to a March 19 report from Florida Politics.
HB 449 would allow optometrists to perform board-approved laser and non-laser ophthalmic procedures. The bill also gives optometrists the ability to advertise themselves as “optometrists certified in ophthalmic procedures.”
Ophthalmologists say that permitting optometrists to perform more advanced procedures would endanger patients.
State Rep. Alex Rizo is the sponsor of the bill. There is currently no corresponding bill in the state Senate, the report said.
