Organized optometry was recently successful in Kentucky in obtaining legislative authorization to perform surgery, and has made it clear that Florida will be the next battleground for expanded scope of practice.

In the 2012 Florida Regular Legislative Session, which officially ended on Friday, March 9, the optometric lobby poured nearly $1 million dollars into a massive legislative effort that would have significantly expanded optometric scope of practice and granted the optometrists the authority to prescribe oral drugs. Thankfully, this dangerous legislation—Senate Bill (SB) 1316-- did not pass.

The FSO worked tirelessly to defeat the bill and will continue to advocate in the best interest of patient safety. We would like to thank our legislative team, the FSO members and the Legislators who supported the FSO during this session--particularly Senator Eleanor Sobel and House Speaker Dean Cannon. We also want to thank and recognize the Specialty and County Medical Societies who rallied to protect our patients and the practice of ophthalmology in Florida. We are extremely appreciative of their support and plan to partner with them at every opportunity in the future.

While SB 1316 ultimately did not pass, it was favorably considered by two Senate committees and actually made it to the Senate floor early last week, but was never heard.

The optometric lobby team is already gearing up for the 2013 Session and has made it clear that that Florida will be the next Kentucky!

To find out how you can protect your patients and help stop this dangerous onslaught, please call the FSO office at 904-998-0819. Our profession is in the cross hairs and your voice needs to heard to prevent what happened in Kentucky.

Will Florida follow Kentucky and allow optometrists to perform surgery? It’s ultimately up to you, but please know that the FSO is ready, willing and able to help.