Eight Steps to Ensure the Professional Standing of Optometry

Introduction

Threats to Traditional Optometric Refractive Practice Weaken Optometry’s Professional Stature.

The increasing demand for medical eye care services along with implementation of the steps below would ensure the professional standing of Optometry for decades to come:

State Legislatures and Regulatory Boards

1. All State Practice Laws Modified to Permit Optometrists to Practice Comprehensive Medical Eye Care Without Restrictions.
   • Scope of Optometry Practice in the United States
2. States to Mandate Postgraduate Clinical Training in Medical Eye Care for Licensure.
   • Required Postgraduate Clinical Training for Optometry License

Core Curriculum and Postgraduate Clinical Training

3. Optometry Schools Curricula to Emphasize Medical Eye Care and Facilitate Their Graduates’ Transition to Postgraduate Clinical Training.
   • Illinois College of Optometry Curriculum with Fourth Professional Year
   • Illinois College of Optometry Residency Programs
4. Residency Programs in Medical Eye Care Significantly Increased. Current Titles and Descriptions of Residency Programs Consolidated and Revised. Residency Title Must Correspond with Name of Specialty.
   • ASCO Titles and Descriptions of Residency Programs

Recognition by Profession of Optometry

5. Board Certification in Optometry Medical Eye Care Widely Recognized.
   • American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry (ABCMO)
6. Optometry Specialties and Subspecialties Widely Recognized.
   • The State of Optometry Specialties and Subspecialties
7. Oversight Board for All Specialties/Subspecialties Recognized.
   • American Board of Optometry Specialties (ABOS)

Federal Government

8. Optometry to Qualify for the Graduate Medical Education Program (GME) Program.
   • Changes Necessary for Optometry to be Included in GME