New scope expansion is coming to Kansas following the state governor’s recent signing of legislation enabling optometrists (ODs) to perform laser and other ophthalmic surgical procedures.
Big news for ODs! Tell me about this legislation.
House Bill (H.B.) 2223 was first introduced in February 2025 by the House Committee on Health and Human Services via a state representative on behalf of the Kansas Optometric Association (KOA).
- It was approved by Gov. Laura Kelly on March 13, 2026.
Its purpose: To amend ODs’ scope of practice by expanding what services they’re allowed to perform, updating key definitions, and creating credentialing requirements for certain procedures.
Can we go into specifics?
We’ll start with that expansion: Under H.B. 2223, ODs can perform certain medical eye procedures previously only permitted to be performed by ophthalmologists.
Among* these:
- Removal of certain foreign objects from the eye (cornea, conjunctiva, or eyelids)
- Eyelash removal
- Removal and biopsy of skin lesion without known cancer growth or malignancy
- Performing corneal scraping
- Performing tear duct irrigation
- Expression of conjunctival follicles or cysts
- Debridement of the corneal epithelium
- Performing some laser treatments
*Not a comprehensive list, keep in mind (see pages 1 and 2 for the full rundown).
… which laser treatments?
Laser capsulotomy following cataract surgery, as well as laser trabeculoplasty for certain glaucoma to improve fluid drainage to lower intraocular pressure (IOP).
Let’s talk exclusions from this.
While the bill specified this scope of practice expansion also includes pre- and postoperative care for other major eye surgeries, it specifically excluded ODs from performing them:
- Retinal surgery
- Implanting intraocular lenses (IOLs)
- Other complex surgical procedures inside the eye:
- Penetrating keratoplasty or corneal transplant
- Administration or performance of surgery under general anesthesia
- Incisional or excisional surgery of extraocular muscles
- Extraction of crystalline lens
- Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) or photorefractive keratotectomy (PRK)
- YAG laser vitreolysis
See here (pages 3 and 4) for more specifications.
Any other scope expansions?
Under H.B. 2223, ODs are permitted to use medical devices:
- To relieve any insufficiencies or abnormal conditions of the human eye “and associated anatomical parts”
- And the administering, prescribing, or dispensing of pharmaceutical drugs through “all routes of administration"—excluding intraocular injections—to examine and diagnose eye- or vision-affected conditions
Got it. Now to these new credentialing requirements.
For ODs wishing to administer or perform those aforementioned newly-authorized procedures, they’ll be required to receive credentialing from the Kansas State Board of Examiners.
Notably: The Board will determine specific training credentialing requirements for licensees dependent on an OD’s graduation year (prior to, on, or after July 1, 2020).
- Hint: A qualifying 32-hour certification program is involved.
See more details on pages 4 and 5, including more info on the increase in mandatory professional liability insurance as well as the continuing education (CE) mandates for license renewal.
And for ODs who do become credentialed for these procedures?
A new reporting requirement will be implemented, in which ODs must submit quarterly reports to the Board consisting of:
- Their name
- Number of procedures performed
- Location of each procedure performed
- Patient outcomes
How will this information be used?
Kansas’s Board will compile these reports into an annual report (public directory), with the names and addresses of all licensed ODs and identifiable patient details redacted.
The timeframe: Per the bill, the Board will begin this compilation on July 1, 2027—and the reporting requirements are expected to sunset 4 years later, on July 1, 2031.
Noted … any other updates included in the bill?
One more! This involves an Interprofessional Advisory Committee whose members (of all ophthalmologists) must be nominated by the Kansas Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.
Per H.B. 2223: The Board can “request the Committee to meet to review a procedure and make a recommendation to the Board as to whether a procedure is appropriate" for an OD to perform.
Interesting. And I take it there was some opposition to its passing?
Indeed. A House Committee hearing held last year included testimony from representatives of the Kansas Medical Society and the KSEP:
Among their concerns:
- The bill would expand ODs’ scope of practice “beyond their training by allowing non-physicians to perform surgery”
- The level of ODs’ training for lasers would be inadequate
- The differences in education and training requirements between ODs and ophthalmologists—including the number of live eye procedures a physician has during residency and fellowship, and that a residency is optional for an OD
… and how about in favor of it?
Representatives from organizations such as the Kansas Chamber, KOA, and Northeastern State College - Oklahoma College of Optometry also spoke out at the hearing.
Their argument: “The bill would modernize the statutorily refined practice of optometry in Kansas” as well as enable current practicing ODs (and new grads) to “practice optometry to the full extent of their education and training.”
See pages 7 and 8 for earlier testimony from both sides (including a neutral stance on the bill).
While we’re on this subject, has the AOA weighed in on this yet?
We’ve reached out to the American Optometric Association (AOA) and KOA.
At the time of publication, neither organization has responded.
Nice! Last question: When will HB 2223 go into effect?
Once signed, state bills typically take around 90 days. However, no specific date has been noted in this case.
We’ll keep you posted!
See here for more legislative news.
*Disclaimer: The information provided in this article does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, materials available herein are for general information purposes only.