Letters to the Editor: Readers react to eye care bill, state budget proposal

Southeastern Zachary Dennen gets fitted for a new pair of glasses by Devon Hutchins, a member of Optometrist Dr. Lindsay Florkey's staff, at Miami View School Friday, April 12, 2024. The Ohio Optometric Association held an In-School Eye Exam (iSEE) event at Miami View School. The iSEE program is operated by the Ohio Optometric Foundation (OOF) and provides comprehensive eye exams to students identified by school nurses as needing vision care. The students then get to pick out and are fitted for glasses that they receive at no charge. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Southeastern Zachary Dennen gets fitted for a new pair of glasses by Devon Hutchins, a member of Optometrist Dr. Lindsay Florkey's staff, at Miami View School Friday, April 12, 2024. The Ohio Optometric Association held an In-School Eye Exam (iSEE) event at Miami View School. The iSEE program is operated by the Ohio Optometric Foundation (OOF) and provides comprehensive eye exams to students identified by school nurses as needing vision care. The students then get to pick out and are fitted for glasses that they receive at no charge. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Senate Bill 36 presents Ohio with a vital opportunity to expand access to eye care by allowing Doctors of Optometry to perform three in-office, non-invasive laser procedures, remove benign eyelid lesions and update the optometric drug formulary. These procedures are already permitted in neighboring states like Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia.

As a practicing optometrist, I often refer patients for these laser procedures and they consistently ask why I can’t perform them myself. Patients are more comfortable in my office, which is local and offers flexible hours. Allowing optometrists to provide this care would reduce months-long wait times and improve access for those in underserved areas.

These procedures fall squarely within optometric training and education. Studies confirm that when performed by optometrists, outcomes are equally safe and effective as those performed by ophthalmologists. We are trained, ready and held to the highest ethical standards to ensure patient safety.

Passing SB 36 would also help Ohio retain top-tier optometrists trained at institutions like The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

Ohioans deserve timely, convenient, high-quality eye care. Support SB 36 – and support better care for patients across our state.

- Dr. Lindsay Florkey, Xenia

I have just learned that the budget plan recently passed by the House of Representatives zeroes out the budget for the Biology Department of the US Geological Survey as of the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30. This is the program which has been not only researching avian flu (sequencing its genome) but also doing fieldwork to track its spread in an effort to prevent it spreading to hosts that will allow it to mutate to a form that can infect humans. In what world does eliminating this program make sense? Avian flu has already caused great havoc to Ohio producers of poultry and eggs, and its spread will only make this worse even if it does not evolve to allow human transmission. We need greater surveillance of this danger, not less, and to go down to none is madness. I strongly urge Ohio’s congressional members of both the House and Senate to restore this funding and prevent an entirely foreseeable blow to Ohio’s economy and the welfare of their constituents.

- Mary Ramey, Lebanon