Medical Associations Call on Alberta Government to Rescind Decision Expanding Optometrists' Surgical Scope

COS, EPSAA, and the AMA's Section of Ophthalmology raise concerns about patient safety, medical and surgical training, and clinical competency.

CALGARY, AB, Oct. 30, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), the Eye Physicians and Surgeons Association of Alberta (EPSAA), and the Section of Ophthalmology of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) are calling on the Government of Alberta to rescind its decision to expand the scope of practice for optometrists to include certain laser procedures, minor surgical procedures, and injections, citing serious concerns about patient safety, medical and surgical training, and clinical competency.

Announced October 26, 2026, the regulatory amendments are scheduled to take effect November 1, with phased implementation and additional authorization requirements for optometrists seeking to perform these procedures.

While optometrists play an important role in primary eye care, their professional education and clinical training differ fundamentally from the medical and surgical training undertaken by ophthalmologists. According to its published curriculum, the University of Waterloo's Office-based Laser and Minor Surgical Procedures for Optometrists course comprises approximately 40 hours, including 12 hours of in-person practical laboratory instruction. In contrast, ophthalmologists complete medical school followed by a minimum of five years of Royal College-accredited residency training, involving extensive supervised clinical and surgical experience, progressive responsibility, and repeated competency assessments.

"Patient safety must remain our highest priority when considering changes to the delivery of eye care," said Dr. Nina Ahuja, President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. "We need to be confident that patients will receive safe, high-quality care, regardless of who provides it or where they live. Decisions like this must be guided by evidence and meaningful consultation with medical and surgical experts."

Although Alberta's authorization framework includes additional training, examinations, and supervised clinical requirements, the adequacy of these safeguards must be subject to transparent, independent evaluation, with particular attention to patient selection, procedural competency, complication management, and clinical oversight.

Supplementary procedural training should not be assumed to provide the breadth of medical knowledge, surgical judgment, and experience developed through years of medical education and specialty residency.

"Learning how to perform a procedure is not the same as knowing when – and perhaps more importantly, when not – to perform it," said Dr. Colin Mann, Chair of Advocacy for the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. "That judgment requires a comprehensive understanding of eye disease, an appreciation of the alternatives and risks, and the experience to manage complications when they occur."

Even relatively brief office-based laser procedures require careful patient selection, accurate diagnosis, and the ability to recognize and manage potentially serious and, at times, sight-threatening complications. Procedures described as "minor" can also present significant diagnostic challenges, including the possibility that an apparently benign eyelid lesion may be cancerous, requiring specialized surgical techniques for appropriate removal.

COS, EPSAA, and the AMA's Section of Ophthalmology recognize the importance of improving access to timely eye care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and value the collaborative role of ophthalmologists and optometrists in caring for patients. However, improving access must be supported by training and expertise that match the complexity of the care being provided, clinical safeguards, and evidence-informed regulatory decisions. The organizations are also seeking evidence of significant access barriers or wait times for these specific procedures, as well as evidence that expanding optometrists' procedural scope would meaningfully improve access, particularly for patients in rural and remote communities.

"We have worked with successive Alberta governments for several years to raise these concerns and to ensure that patient safety remains central to any proposed changes," said Dr. David Ehmann, President of the Eye Physicians and Surgeons Association of Alberta. "Despite our longstanding engagement, important questions remain unanswered. We are disappointed that the decision was made without the further consultation we had anticipated."

As the only Canadian province to authorize optometrists to perform these procedures, Alberta's decision carries implications extending beyond provincial boundaries.
COS, EPSAA, and the AMA's Section of Ophthalmology call on the Government of Alberta to rescind its decision and undertake meaningful consultation with ophthalmology representatives before proceeding with any expansion of procedural scope of practice.

The organizations remain committed to working collaboratively with government, optometrists, and other healthcare professionals to improve access to timely eye care through evidence-informed solutions, including improved referral pathways, collaborative models of care, and better access to specialists with the training and expertise required to deliver safe, high-quality care, ensuring that patient safety remains the highest priority.

About the Canadian Ophthalmological Society

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is the national professional association representing ophthalmologists across Canada. COS is committed to advancing excellence in ophthalmology and vision care through education, advocacy, and the promotion of high-quality patient care.

www.cos-sco.ca

About the Eye Physicians and Surgeons Association of Alberta

The Eye Physicians and Surgeons Association of Alberta (EPSAA) represents ophthalmologists in Alberta and advocates for high-quality medical and surgical eye care and patient safety throughout the province. https://epsaa.ca/ 

About the Alberta Medical Association's Section of Ophthalmology

The Section of Ophthalmology of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) represents ophthalmologists within the AMA and provides a forum for addressing issues affecting the practice of ophthalmology in Alberta. The Section supports professional advocacy and engagement on matters related to medical and surgical eye care, clinical standards, and patient safety. https://www.albertadoctors.org/about/governance/sections/ophthalmology/ 

SOURCE The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS)

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