Tennessee Allows Optometrists to Perform In‑Office Laser Eye Procedures

TL;DR: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a law allowing board‑certified optometrists to perform YAG capsulotomy, selective laser trabeculoplasty, and laser peripheral iridotomy in office, making the state the 16th to expand optometric scope.

Context: Over the past year, several states have debated expanding optometrists’ surgical authority. Texas saw a court block a vision‑plan restriction, Kansas approved limited ophthalmic surgeries with new training rules, and New Hampshire’s governor vetoed a laser‑procedure bill. These moves reflect a national push to broaden optometric services amid evolving eye‑care demand.

Key Facts: The law (Senate Bill 2076) permits licensed optometrists to diagnose, manage, and treat anterior‑segment conditions using three specific lasers: YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification, selective laser trabeculoplasty for open‑angle glaucoma, and laser peripheral iridotomy for angle‑closure glaucoma. To perform these, optometrists must obtain Board of Optometry approval, which will set required training pathways—previously referenced as programs at the Southern College of Optometry. The statute prohibits optometrists from retina lasers, LASIK, corneal transplants, cataract surgery, and any non‑laser surgery involving the cornea, sclera, iris, ciliary body, vitreous, or retina. Local anesthetic use is allowed for eyelid and adnexa procedures, provided the optometrist holds current CPR certification and has an AED on site.

What It Means: Randomized controlled trials of YAG capsulotomy, SLT, and LPI in ophthalmology settings report complication rates below 1% when performed by trained providers, with typical sample sizes of 100‑200 eyes. These data suggest the procedures are safe when proper credentials are met, but the law’s impact on patient outcomes in optometric practice remains to be measured. Correlation between scope expansion and access does not prove causation of improved health; further cohort studies will be needed to assess real‑world effectiveness and any adverse events.

What to watch next: Stakeholders will monitor the Board of Optometry’s training standards, early adoption rates among Tennessee optometrists, and any legislative or legal challenges that may arise as other states consider similar expansions.