Ophthalmologists Urge Provinces Not to Allow Optometrists to Perform Minor Surgeries

Ophthalmologists Urge Provinces Not to Allow Optometrists to Perform Minor Surgeries
Glasses are seen at an eye clinic in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on March 4, 2018. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
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Ophthalmologists are urging provincial governments not to move ahead with plans that would allow optometrists to perform some surgeries and laser eye treatments, which are currently outside their scope of practice.

Dr. Nina Ahuja, president-elect of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, says surgery must remain in the hands of physicians and handing over even seemingly minor procedures to optometrists is “200 percent unsafe” for patients.