Optometry Scope of Practice Expansion Gets Senate Hearing

February 26, 2025

The MMA and other healthcare organizations are opposing legislation that would expand optometrists’ scope of practice to allow them to conduct injections into and around the eyeball. In addition, the bill would allow injections into facial and eye muscles, and would allow optometrists to prescribe very strong and potentially dangerous oral medications, like steroids for 14 days, without physician consultation. 

The MMA, Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, all oppose SF1144 (Maye Quade, DFL – Apple Valley), which was heard February 25 in the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Committee 

In its letter to the committee, the MMA argued that the “limits on optometric prescribing included in the current statute serve a very important purpose in protecting the public.”  

“There is a vast difference (between ophthalmologists and optometrists) in the volume of clinical care and surgical training, “said Erik van Kuijk, MD, PhD, of the University of Minnesota Medical School. Other testifiers pointed out the difference in training, emphasizing that optometrists lack the minimum necessary training and expertise to safely perform complex injections around the eyes. They also argue that prescribing of powerful medications by optometrists is unnecessary and places overall health and safety of Minnesotans at risk, and that misdiagnosis and improper treatment/lack of follow-up has severe vision and healthcare ramifications. 

Proponents of the bill, including the Minnesota Optometric Association and the Minnesota Board of Optometry, argued that the bill will increase timely access to quality care; attract optometrists to practice in Minnesota; benefit patients from the latest medications and technology; and more fully utilize optometrist education training.  

The legislation was laid over for possible future action.