FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 24, 2011

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Better Access to Quality Eye Care was signed today by Gov. Steve Beshear.    

In a statement to media, Gov. Beshear recognized that the legislation, supported by the Kentucky Optometric Association, will greatly improve access for all Kentuckians.

“Access to quality health care is a critical issue for families across the Commonwealth,” he said in a written statement. “After careful consideration, along with meetings with many interested parties, today I signed Senate Bill 110 to give Kentuckians greater access to necessary eye care. 

“…This bill passed overwhelmingly in both legislative chambers (81-14 in the House and 33-3 in the Senate), showing broad bi-partisan support.  And finally, in order to ensure the highest degree of oversight, I will be meeting with the Board of Optometric Examiners to make sure that providers of these services undergo extensive training. I believe this new law will mean more Kentuckians can get the eye care they need.”

To be treated for some conditions currently, patients must make a second appointment to travel to another doctor, many times in another town, despite their eye doctor having the education and training to provide the treatment. This extra step can result in additional time off work and an extra co-payment for the patient. It also increases costs to taxpayers because Medicaid patients must see a second doctor and charge transportation costs to the state when they travel to another county for eye care. 

Optometrists are located in 106 counties throughout Kentucky. In contrast, two-thirds of the state’s counties do not have an ophthalmologist. 

“Patients – especially in rural communities – will be able to depend on their hometown eye doctor to treat their eye health needs efficiently, effectively and safely,” said Dr. Joe Ellis, a doctor of optometry in Benton, Ky., and president of the American Optometric Association.   

Dr. Ben Gaddie of Louisville added: “Senate Bill 110 will allow doctors of optometry to provide the latest and best technology in treating their patients. Patients would be able to receive treatment in the office rather than forcing them to travel to another doctor.”

Under SB 110, The Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners would have the ability to allow Kentucky optometrists to incorporate new technologies to treat many of the conditions they already manage.

“For decades, doctors of optometry in other states have safely performed simple, in-office procedures giving patients greater access to affordable, convenient, quality care. I know because I have trained many of them,” said Dr. Les Walls, a medical doctor from Oklahoma and former dean of Northeastern State University Oklahoma’s College of Optometry. “This legislation is going to give Kentuckians the same easier access to quality eye health care.”

Since 1998, Oklahoma optometrists have successfully performed the same procedures allowed in SB 110 with zero complaints to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure.
Doctors of optometry complete four years of post-graduate, doctoral-level study concentrating on the eye, vision and associated systemic diseases. Curriculums and continuing education are constantly updated to keep up with all new technologies, including lasers and other medical treatments related to eye disorders. The legislation would allow optometrists to:

1. Utilize the most up-to-date, cost-effective methods of administering medication. Current eye research is focused on new methods of administering drugs that are more efficient and cost effective, such as medicated contact lenses or periodic injections rather than daily medications.
2. Remove lumps and bumps from the eye and eyelids. Consumers currently can buy over the counter products now to do it themselves chemically, but it is safer and cosmetically better to have it done by a doctor using the most effective means.   
3. Use laser technology to treat conditions that optometrists already manage. Doctors of optometry currently diagnose conditions and then must send patients out to have the procedures performed. Optometrists will not be doing cataract extractions, retinal surgery, Lasik or other procedures that require general anesthesia.   

Gaddie, who trained and practiced in Oklahoma, had been unable to perform these procedures in Kentucky.

“I routinely performed these procedures in Oklahoma,” said Gaddie, who also serves as an adjunct faculty member in Oklahoma and trains other optometrists how to perform the procedures. “When I decided to return home to Kentucky, I soon realized that the Kentucky optometry law was not up to date here, so my patients were denied access to the care I could safely provide to them.”

 About the Kentucky Optometric Association:
Doctors of optometry provide two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States. They are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient’s overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Prior to optometry school, optometrists typically complete four years of undergraduate study, culminating in a bachelor’s degree. Required undergraduate coursework for pre-optometry students is extensive and covers a wide variety of advanced health, science and mathematics. Optometry school consists of four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care. 

 

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