Cockrell said a computer defines the amount of laser pulses needed to reshape the cornea after a technician enters a patient's medical information into the database. Oklahoma is the only state where optometrists are authorized to do certain laser surgeries. But, said Thomas Eichhorst, a spokesman for the American Optometric Association in St. Louis, medical doctors want to retain control over the laser surgical monopoly. But the governor vetoed it. The governor's brother is a cardiologist.
Medical doctors view the issue differently, arguing that optometrists are unqualified to do surgery.
Success should be more about visual quality rather than visual acuity,'' Link said. Burns acknowledged that surgical success is generally measured by a patient's post-surgical level of vision acuity. A lot depends on the experience of the individual performing the procedure, he said, the highest success rates are achieved with experienced hands. I was glad that the piece was clear that Surgical Eyes doesn't really see itself as part of this battle. For us, it's all about our eyesight.