title: Comparison of Outcomes of Laser Trabeculoplasty Performed by Optometrists vs Ophthalmologists in Oklahoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oklahoma is one of the few states where optometrists have surgical privileges to perform laser trabeculoplasty (LTP). Optometrists in other states are lobbying to obtain privileges to perform LTP and other laser procedures. Little is known whether outcomes of patients undergoing this procedure by optometrists are similar to those undergoing LTP by ophthalmologists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcomes of LTPs performed by ophthalmologists with those performed by optometrists to determine whether differences exist in the need for additional LTPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective longitudinal cohort study used a health care claims database containing more than 1000 eyes of Medicare enrollees with glaucoma who underwent LTP in Oklahoma from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2013. For each procedure, the data specify the type of eye care professional who performed the LTP. The rate of LTPs performed by ophthalmologists that required 1 or more additional LTPs in the same eye was compared with the rate of LTPs performed by optometrists. Regression models determined factors affecting risk of undergoing more than 1 LTP in the same eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportion of enrollees requiring additional LTPs, hazard ratio with 95% CIs of undergoing additional LTPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1384 eyes of 891 eligible patients underwent LTP from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2013. There were 1150 eyes that received LTP (83.1%) by an ophthalmologist and 234 eyes (16.9%) that had the procedure performed by an optometrist. The mean (SD) age at the initial LTP was 77.7 (7.5) years for enrollees with ophthalmologist-performed LTP and 77.6 (8.0) years for those with optometrist-performed LTP (P = .89). Among the 1384 eyes receiving LTP, 258 (18.6%) underwent more than 1 LTP in the same eye. The proportion of eyes undergoing LTP by an optometrist requiring 1 or more subsequent LTP session (35.9%) was more than double the proportion of eyes that received this procedure by an ophthalmologist (15.1%). Medicare beneficiaries undergoing LTP by optometrists had a 189% increased hazard of requiring additional LTPs in the same eye compared with those receiving LTP by ophthalmologists (hazard ratio, 2.89; 95% CI, 2.00-4.17; P < .001) after adjusting for potential confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considerable differences exist among the proportions of patients requiring additional LTPs comparing those who were initially treated by ophthalmologists with those initially treated by optometrists. Health policy makers should be cautious about approving laser privileges for optometrists practicing in other states until the reasons for these differences are better understood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Medical School, WK Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor2Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor3Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Peter Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Medical School, WK Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Dean McGee Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Skuta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009825:Oklahoma; D000072163:Ophthalmologists / Q000592:standards*; D000072162:Optometrists / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome