The Arkansans for Healthy Eyes ballot committee has been formed to advocate for keeping a state law enacted in this year's regular session that will allow optometrists to perform a broader range of eye surgeries.
The committee -- chaired by Arkansas Optometric Association Executive Director Vicki Farmer -- announced its formation on Wednesday. Blytheville optometrist Matthew Jones is the committee's secretary and Belinda Starkey of Rogers is the committee's treasurer, while patients Billy Curl of Blytheville and Brad Harrison of Manila also serve on the committee, according to its filing with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
The Arkansans for Healthy Eyes committee's announcement came eight days after the Safe Surgery Arkansas ballot committee, chaired by attorney Nate Steel, proposed for the 2020 general election ballot a statewide referendum on the fate of Act 579, which will allow optometrists to perform a broader range of eye surgeries, effective July 24.
The Safe Surgery Arkansas committee will be required to collect 53,493 signatures of registered voters by July 23 in order to place Act 579 on the 2020 ballot and temporarily suspend Act 579 until the statewide vote in 2020. Article 5, Section 1, of the Arkansas Constitution gives the people of Arkansas the right to refer to voters any act of the Legislature.
"Act 579 gives Arkansas patients better access to quality care by allowing optometrists to perform more of the procedures we are absolutely qualified to safely perform," Starkey said in a news release issued by the Arkansans for Healthy Eyes committee.
"Despite the fear tactics being used by opponents, we are actually only talking about a handful of minimally invasive procedures, done right in your optometrist's chair, and without the need for general anesthesia," said Starkey, who is also licensed to practice in Oklahoma, where optometrists have been performing the procedures for more than 20 years.
In response, Steel said in a written statement that "we look forward to a fair debate on this issue and an outcome that is based on patient safety, not political influence. The voters of Arkansas should have the opportunity to decide if they're comfortable having eye surgeries performed by non surgeons."
Existing state law -- before Act 579 takes effect -- allows optometrists to do a few minor procedures that are considered surgery, including epilation of the eyelash, corneal foreign body removal, debridement and insertion of punctual plugs, said Amanda Story, a spokeswoman for the Arkansans for Healthy Eyes committee.
Act 579 will allow optometrists to administer injections around the eye, remove bumps and lesions from eyelids, and perform certain types of laser surgery now performed by ophthalmologists.
The law also will require the state Board of Optometry to establish credentialing requirements for a license to administer or perform these procedures. The law will require each optometrist who meets the requirements for certification to perform authorized laser procedures to report to the board regarding the outcome of the procedures and report to the state Board of Health.
Metro on 06/20/2019