MAR 04, 2021
Optometric Surgery Bill Clears Senate Committee in Alabama
Harmful legislation granting optometrists the authority to perform scalpel and laser eye surgery cleared a hurdle this week when it passed the Alabama Senate Government Affairs Committee.
Sponsored by state Sen. Jim McClendon, a practicing optometrist and former president of the Alabama Optometric Association, Senate Bill 174 would lower patient safety standards and quality of surgical eye care. If enacted, the legislation would surrender full authority to the state board of optometry to unilaterally determine optometric scope of practice.