Optometrists, ophthalmologists debate bill on TV after its passage

The bill to let optometrists perform some procedures now done legally only by ophthalmologists has passed both houses and is on the governor’s desk, but members of both professions are debating its effects on television.

Leaders of the Kentucky Optometric Association and the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians appeared on cn|2‘s “Pure Politics” with Ryan Alessi on Insight cable Friday night, and are scheduled to appear on KET‘s “Kentucky Tonight” with Bill Goodman Monday at 8 p.m. EST.

Ben Gaddie of Louisville, president-elect of the optometrists’ group, told Alessi that while the bill was passed only 11 days after it was filed, becoming the year’s first to go to Gov. Steve Beshear, “We weren’t intentionally hiding anything … There are no secrets in Frankfort.”

Woodford VanMeter of Lexington, president of the ophthalmologists’ group, “took issue with the ophthalmologists receiving limited time to raise their objections during committee hearings on the bill,” cn|2 reports. (Click arrow to start video)