Ohio Optometric Association

05/15/2026

Senate Bill 36 only includes specific in-office laser and eyelid procedures that Doctors of Optometry are trained and qualified to perform.

The bill does NOT include major surgeries like cataract surgery, LASIK or retina surgery. Learn more about the types of procedures included in Senate Bill 36 from board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Ronald Brown Jr. (Specialty Eye Institute Toledo).

https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk

05/12/2026

Did you know every U.S. optometry school train Doctors of Optometry to perform in-office laser and eyelid procedures? Yet Ohio’s restrictive scope prevents ODs from practicing to the full extent of their training and education.

Senate Bill 36, the Primary Eye Care Modernization Bill, helps keep highly trained ODs in Ohio while increasing access to comprehensive vision services for patients across the state.

👉 Learn more about why Senate Bill 36 matters:
https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk

05/07/2026

When Shape Matters
Astigmatism happens when the eye isn’t evenly rounded. A comprehensive eye exam can diagnose it and guide treatment.

https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/find-a-doctor?sso=y

05/01/2026

AOA 2026 Award Winners were announced. Congratulations to Dr. Gregory Nixon for being selected as the AOA's Optometric Educator of the Year, Dr. Michael Earley for receiving the Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr., InfantSEE Award, Ms. Amy Ngo for Student of the Year and iSee Ohio for receiving the Apollo Award! Thank you to the AOA and their longstanding Visionary Supporter Johnson & Johnson for their recognition. All of the 2026 award winners will be recognized at Optometry's Meeting in June. Read more here https://tinyurl.com/ec6pwvb8

04/28/2026

Would you like some assistance with student loan debt? Apply for the Student Loan Repayment Program! All OOA members who have met the basic criteria of seeing Medicaid patients while carrying student loan debt, and did some volunteering, optometry related or not, are eligible and should apply! Over the past five years, 50% of applicants have received an award.

And, new in 2026, the application has been updated to expand eligibility! Additional questions have been added to recognize providers who serve geriatric populations and those who deliver in-home care to shut-ins or patients residing in nursing homes. Applicants will also have the opportunity to earn points for participation in OOA Zone meetings and EastWest educational programs, including EastWest Online University (www.eastwesteye.org). A full listing of criteria can be found on the Member Advantages page on the OOA website.

Application and instructions are available at this link: OVP SLR Instructions and Application https://www.ooa.org/aws/OOA/ctrb/289767/34631/2343574?c=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ooa.org%2Faws%2FOOA%2Fasset_manager%2Fget_file%2F946309%3Fver%3D0&i=6

Contact info@ooa.org with questions. Application Submission Deadline is April 30, 2026.

04/22/2026

We’re proud of the gains we’ve made in ensuring the youngest in our state have access to comprehensive eye exams. Improving access to vision care means addressing the needs of adult patients, too.

Senate Bill 36 builds on the extensive training of Doctors of Optometry to expand access — helping reduce wait times and travel burdens for patients across the state.

➡️ Learn more about how scope expansion will benefit Ohio patients. https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk

04/16/2026

Congratulations to the TAOP (Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians) for passing the Optometry Practice Act and modernizing your practice for your state’s patients!

That makes 16 states who now can safely offer to their residents these office-based laser procedures performed by their trusted Doctor of Optometry.

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk

We’re thrilled to share the bill to expand access to quality eye care in Tennessee and modernize the Optometry Practice Act has been signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. Thank you again to our prime sponsors Sen. Bo Watson and Rep. Ryan Williams and all of our co-sponsors in both houses, and to our hard-working TAOP legislative committee and all of you for your support throughout this legislative process.

04/10/2026

Doctors of Optometry complete 10,000+ hours of education and clinical training focused on the eye and related systemic conditions. ODs already diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of ocular diseases — working closely with ophthalmologists to deliver the best outcomes for patients. 🤝

Expanding optometry’s scope of practice builds on this foundation, which will help more Ohioans access the care they need.

https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk

04/02/2026

CLAIM: Ohio is among the top states for practicing physicians.
FACT: That doesn’t reflect access to eye care.

📉 Ophthalmology is projected to face a 12% workforce decline and a 24% increase in demand by 2035, with rural access already limited.

📈 Meanwhile, Ohio optometrists already practice in 87 of 88 counties and are trained to meet growing patient needs.

Expanding optometry’s scope of practice through Senate Bill 36 will help ensure patients can safely get the care they need, close to home.

Learn more: https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk

03/27/2026

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again:

More than 146,000 laser procedures have been performed by optometrists in the U.S., with a compliance or negative outcome rate of less than 0.0014%.

That means that optometrists are safely completing these office-based procedures at the same success rate as ophthalmologists.

Know the facts and how Senate Bill 36 could help Ohio patients.
https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, Catherine Ingram, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Susan Manchester, State Senator Beth Liston, Mark Romanchuk

03/26/2026

Fact: Expanding optometry’s scope of practice will increase access to essential eye care for patients across Ohio.

Some argue that scope expansion doesn’t improve access, but that claim relies on incomplete and misleading data. Measuring procedures as a percentage of the workforce undervalues optometrists and fails to reflect the total number of treatments actually being provided.

In reality, optometrists already perform a high volume of these procedures in states with expanded scope, where access to care has improved through rapid and sustained growth in treatment availability.

Ohio patients deserve safe, timely access to vision care, and scope expansion is part of the solution.

Learn more about how scope expansion will benefit Ohio patients. https://trustedeyecareohio.com/

Ohio State Senator Steve Huffman, State Senator Beth Liston, Catherine Ingram, Susan Manchester, Elect Kristina Daley Roegner, Mark Romanchuk