Governor Brown Signs Legislation Expediting Optometric Care

Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 761 into law last week. Assembly Bill 761 allows optometrists to better serve their patients by allowing them to administer certain eye exams in their own offices, rather than sending the patients away to have the testing conducted in separate laboratories, a practice that delays testing, diagnosis and treatment.
The two specific tests now authorized to be performed inside an optometrist’s office would test for red eyes and dry eyes. Currently, optometrists may order these tests from a laboratory, which requires sending the patient away to separate location. Patients are inconvenienced by having to travel to a laboratory, unnecessarily delaying the testing, diagnosis and treatment. What’s worse, the medical delays are not even necessary, given the two exams in question are so simple, they can even be performed by patients at home, much like blood glucose and pregnancy tests.
“Optometrists often find clues to what is going on in our bodies by examining our eyes. For example, glaucoma is often a symptom of diabetes. Given the diabetes epidemic, including amongst our children, it is important that eye patients are not sent around in circles,” said Assemblymember Hernández. “This legislation guarantees efficient and quick patient care.”
The new law will take effect on January 1, 2013.

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