Key Takeaways
- Beginning July 1, 2028, eligible optometrists in Vermont will be authorized to perform specified laser and minor surgical procedures after completing required training
- Vermont becomes the 17th state to authorize ophthalmic laser procedures by optometrists, following similar scope expansions in Kansas and Tennessee earlier in 2026
Vermont has enacted legislation that expands the scope of practice for optometrists and establishes a new pathway for qualified doctors of optometry to perform additional in-office eye care procedures, including certain ophthalmic laser treatments.
Gov. Phil Scott signed the measure into law on June 18. The legislation creates an Advanced Therapeutic Procedures Specialty License and authorizes eligible Vermont optometrists who complete required training to perform specified procedures beginning July 1, 2028.
According to the Vermont Optometric Association (VOA), the law makes Vermont the 17th state to authorize optometrists to perform ophthalmic laser procedures. The measure follows similar scope-of-practice expansions enacted earlier this year in Kansas and Tennessee.
“This is a historic day for Vermont patients and doctors of optometry,” Tina Keshava, OD, president of the VOA, said in a statement. “For years, Vermont doctors have worked to ensure our laws reflect the education and training we receive today. This legislation will improve access to care across our state and help more patients receive the services they need closer to home.”
Under the new law, optometrists who obtain the specialty license and complete the required training will be permitted to perform a range of procedures, including:
- Laser capsulotomy
- Laser peripheral iridotomy
- Selective laser trabeculoplasty
- Corneal cross-linking
- Removal of certain eyelid and periocular lesions
- Repair of minor eyelid injuries
- Periocular injections for medications and anesthesia
The VOA led advocacy efforts supporting the legislation, which the organization described as the culmination of a multi-year campaign focused on aligning state practice laws with contemporary optometric education and training. The effort also received support from the American Optometric Association’s State Government Relations Center.
The enactment continues a broader national trend of states revisiting optometric scope-of-practice laws. Tennessee and Kansas became the 15th and 16th states, respectively, to approve similar expansions earlier in 2026. Implementation of the new specialty license and training requirements is expected to occur ahead of the July 2028 effective date for the authorized procedures.
