Hello Tulsa and Broken Arrow. I hope everyone is enjoying the rain. Today I wanted to talk a little about the recent legislature around eye care here in Oklahoma. As a result, most eye doctors have been asked more legislative questions during eye exams in Broken Arrow and beyond over the last year than they thought they would be asked during their entire career as an Eye Doctor.
Currently, there is quite a bit more controversy around eye doctors and laws then most people realize. However all medical fields are highly legislated. In fact as I write this Arkansas is undergoing a large dispute between Optometry and Ophthalmology over surgery. Arkansas is trying to move to be more like Oklahoma with regards to what an Optometrist can do surgically. A study has been done regarding the cost to the population of Arkansas. The study found that it will save the average individual in Arkansas several hundred dollars a year.
Now I want to provide some background information to become an Eye Doctor (Optometrist) you must graduate from Optometry school, pass 3 parts of National Boards, and then pass State Boards. Every state has different rules on what an Eye Doctor can or can’t do. Most states are expanding what the Eye Doctor can do to be more like Oklahoma.
State Question 793
Now, that may surprise most of you based on the SQ 793 information rolled out almost a year ago. If you don’t remember or want more information on SQ 793 here is a link with more information. One of the big concerns with 793 was that it would give corporations too much control over the Eye Doctor. It would have allowed corporations like Walmart, Eyemart Express, Pearle Vision, Stanton Optical, Lenscrafters… to have their CEO control and dictate what the Eye Doctor would do.
Did it Pass
However, it thankfully was not passed. Also, the voters in the Tulsa area were credited as being the voters that kept it from passing. Well, legislation is being passed that is a compromise over what Walmart wanted and what Eye Doctors in Oklahoma wanted. It is a good thing for consumers and a good thing for patients. This legislature keeps Broken Arrow eye exams consistent across the boar. It will keep Broken Arrow Eye Doctors being regulated by our medical board and not corporations. This is a good thing for patients and the public.
Lastly, I want to add that this won’t be the last time people of Broken Arrow will have to vote regarding what an Eye Doctor can do surgically. I will be curious to see when the next big fight happens. For the most part, those fights are taking place in other states currently.
Here is a link to a video I made back during the SQ 793 debate if you would like to hear more information. This is mainly for historical purposes.
Again, thank you all for the continued support of One Vision and click here for more information about our Eye Doctor https://onevisioneyecare.com/about/. If there is anything you would like me to discuss please email or call us.
