LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson last week signed into law a bill that significantly expands the scope of practice for optometrists in that state. The legislation, HB 1251, allows optometrists to now perform SLT and YAG laser procedures, injections (excluding IV and intraocular), removal of lid lesions and chalazion incision and curettage. The new law will go into effect in August. The Arkansas Optometric Association celebrated the win with a Facebook post that said “It is a testament to the important primary eye health care doctors of optometry deliver to our patients.

The most exciting aspect is that families across the state will have much greater access to comprehensive eye health and vision care, with doctors of optometry being authorized to practice near the fullest extent of our training.”

Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kentucky have already passed laws expanding the use of lasers by optometrists.