California Eye Doctors Face Off Over Rule on Glaucoma Treatment
Tensions are heating up over a pending regulation change that would allow California optometrists to treat patients with glaucoma, the Los Angeles Daily Journal reports.
Under the new rule, optometrists would need to take a brief training course before treating glaucoma patients. Previous regulations required optometrists to complete a one-year residency under expert supervision before receiving authorization to treat glaucoma.
The regulation has pitted the state's optometrists against its ophthalmologists, who currently treat the majority of glaucoma patients. Ophthalmologists are fighting back against the rule change and have filed a petition to block the regulation.
The state Department of Consumer Affairs is expected to make a decision regarding the regulation during the coming weeks (George, Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2/3). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.