Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 18, 2017

A growing number of medical professionals have joined forces in a wave of disapproval of optometrists in Florida’s “Eyeball Wars,” which is now making way through Tallahassee. HB 1037, which seeks to allow optometrists to perform surgery and prescribe opiates, among other things, now sits on the agenda of the House Health & Human Services […]

Peter SchorschApril 12, 2017

It’s no secret that the United States is in the midst of an epidemic of opioid abuse, overdoses and deaths, with Florida emerging as an epicenter. Nevertheless, several Tallahassee lawmakers, albeit unwittingly, may soon contribute to this wildfire of a crisis, a casualty of the latest battle in Florida’s Eyeball Wars. Few can argue the […]

Peter SchorschMarch 28, 2017

Florida’s Eyeball Wars rage on in Tallahassee, as optometrists continue pushing a bill allowing them to perform laser surgeries despite a potentially dangerous lack of medical training. Richard Miniter, the chief executive officer of American Media Institute, broke down the issue in-depth with a three-part series co-authored with Joseph Hammond, in which he describes how […]

Phil AmmannMarch 24, 2017

The nation’s largest association of physicians is the latest group to come out against a bill at the center of Florida’s so-called “Eyeball Wars” between ophthalmologists and optometrists. On Thursday, American Medical Association President and CEO James Madara sent a letter to House Health & Human Services Committee chair Travis Cummings, in which he called […]

Phil AmmannMarch 23, 2017

Florida’s “Eyeball Wars” between ophthalmologists and optometrists could soon be spilling onto the House floor. On Monday, Speaker Richard Corcoran removed HB 1037 — a controversial bill to allow optometrists to perform surgery, among other things — off the agenda of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. A representative for Corcoran told POLITICO Florida that […]

Phil AmmannMarch 15, 2017

Optometrists enjoyed a narrow victory Wednesday in Florida’s renewed Eyeball Wars when a House committee advanced a bill to allow optometrists to perform certain types of eye surgery. After a two-hour hearing, the House Health Quality Subcommittee approved HB 1037, sponsored by Rep. Manny Diaz and opposed by both the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and […]

Peter SchorschMarch 15, 2017

Tallahassee has once again found itself in the thick of a renewed Eyeball Wars between optometrists and ophthalmologists. And no less than patient safety in Florida is on the line. After a four-year truce, optometrists have gone back on their word, drafting legislation to allow them to perform surgery; it is a proposal that ophthalmologists, […]

Peter SchorschMarch 14, 2017

Do you know who is taking care of your eyes? That question is at the heart of “Joanne’s Story” a video about a Vero Beach woman who nearly lost her eyesight after an ophthalmologist caught a rare diagnosis which was missed by her optometrist. Joanne was previously under the care of an optometrist who diagnosed […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2017

Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Nearly four years have passed since the truce was called in the decades-long “eyeballs war” between Florida optometrists and ophthalmologists. But with the Legislative Session approaching, that fragile peace seems all but finished. Optometrists are seemingly going back on their word, working behind the scenes to file legislation to […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 24, 2017

As Florida’s “Eyeball Wars” start up again, research in the Journal of the American Medical Association gives new insight on what is at stake in the struggle between ophthalmologists and optometrists. In October 2016, a team of medical professionals, mostly from the University of Michigan, issued a report examining the difference in treatment outcomes between […]

Tag: eyeball wars

Eyeball Wars rage as dozens of medical groups oppose optometrists, claiming ‘serious threat’ to care

A dangerous consequence of Florida’s Eyeball Wars; throwing gasoline on the state’s wildfire opioid crisis

New three-part series unpacks ‘dark side’ of money, influence in Florida’s Eyeball Wars

American Medical Association sides against optometrists in Florida Eyeball Wars

Speaker moves Eyeball Wars closer to House floor; docs say optometrist testimony ‘patently false’

Ophthalmologists ‘disheartened’ by House advancing bill for optometrists to practice surgery

American Surgeons warn House against latest salvo in Florida’s resurgent Eyeball Wars

Eyeball Wars: It’s all about knowing who takes care of your eyes

We told you so; Eyeball Wars set to begin anew

JAMA study shows research not on optometrists’ side in Eyeball Wars