Oklahomans are in the rather dubious position of being the only citizens in the nation where health care providers who have not received medical or osteopathic training can perform eye surgery on them.  The medical community is concerned and says this raises questions about the quality of surgical care for Oklahomans.

Earlier this year, the Oklahoma legislature approved legislation that would allow optometrists, who are not medical doctors, to perform delicate eye surgery with a scalpel on their patients, including eyelid cancer lesion surgery and to stick a needle into the eyeball.   In response to cries of foul play from the medical community, governor Brad Henry stepped in, and said that through the rules process, he would ensure that the practice of optometry would not be expanded or contracted under the new law:

�Allowing unqualified practitioners to use a scalpel on your eyes is truly scary stuff. This rule raises serious patient quality of surgical care questions.�

Oklahoma ophthalmologist, Doctor Cynthia Bradford is Chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology�s State Affairs Committee:

�We are urging Governor Henry to keep his promise to the citizens of Oklahoma and reject this dangerous regulation that would give non-surgeons authority to perform eye surgery with a scalpel.  Surgery should only be done by surgeons.�

The governor now has 45 days to either approve or disapprove this emergency rule, which carries the force and effect of law.

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