Over 75 members of the Maryland Optometric Association who attended an upbeat Town Hall meeting on May 15th were briefed on anticipated legislative battles that loom on the horizon for their profession.

MOA Legal Counsel and Lobbyist Ira C. Cooke reported that efforts are already underway on the part of organized ophthalmology in Maryland to restrain optometrists from using punctal plugs and to restrict their co-management of patients to “direct supervision by an ophthalmologist.”

He noted further, however, that the 2002 state elections offer the optometric profession an excellent opportunity to be involved in forging the future of the profession. Of particular note was Mr. Cooke’s prediction that the environment in the Maryland General Assembly may become one that would favor efforts to expand the scope of TPA practices.

“On one hand we will be aggressively working to expand your ability to better serve your patients,” said MOA President Jeff Poland, O.D. of Cumberland. “On the other, we will be constantly facing challenges from ophthalmologists who want to limit your opportunity to practice the full scope of optometric services.”

There was an overwhelming consensus among those present that the optometrists of Maryland must get more involved if they are to help advance their profession. More importantly, perhaps, is the need for them to be involved just to make sure that the profession does not lose ground.

“For years, ophthalmology has aggressively worked to counter our efforts to bring better optometry to the people of Maryland,” said MOA Executive Director Tom Shaner. “It seems that medicine is now organized to not only try to defeat our positive efforts but to force us to use resources to defend the outstanding levels of competency constantly provided by optometrists.”

President Poland appealed to those present to give their immediate support to the MOA Political Action Committee. “Each and every one of us should contribute at least $1 a day to the effort,” he stressed. “We’re the David in the battles with Goliath (medicine), and we have to have stones for our slings or else Goliath will win.”

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