Optometrists move closer to goal of providing more eye care procedures

Medical doctors warn of patient safety as measure heads to Senate floor

Photo by David Travis on Unsplash

PIERRE – At the start of February, you didn’t need bifocals to see that optometrists in South Dakota were staring at defeat.

Back at the Legislature for a second year, their effort to expand procedures they can legally perform deadlocked on successive tie votes in a House committee. While that could have ended their effort, the full House took up the measure and revived it with a 48-17 vote.

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Now, nearing the end of the month, they are one step away from legislative victory following passage Wednesday in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Supporters of the bill say the scope of practice for optometrists practicing in South Dakota hasn’t been updated in 30 years. Procedures that have been commonly taught in optometry school and practiced elsewhere for years are not permitted in South Dakota.

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