Special interests push for eye exams
Tuesday, February 28th, 2006
By Chris Fitzsimon
The following is a Counterpoint column:
By Paul J. Simel
It is with concern that I have read of the sudden interest in optometrist Jim Black, who has shown the influence of the optometric lobby by the passage of a law requiring each child entering school to have a comprehensive eye examination.
It is meritorious to test each child for common and not-so-common eye problems, but it surely is not cost-effective to do so in the manner required.
I spent my career as a physical ophthalmologist (M.D.) and eye surgeon and have watched the gradual inroads into traditional physician practice made by the optometric lobby. It has reached the point where eye surgery is now on the radar for optometric lobbying. This should be of greater concern for patients and physicians. There seems to be a lack of understanding when politicians determine credentials for medical and surgical procedures by relatively untrained optometrists. (more…)
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