For Patients and the Public
For Ophthalmologists
Our Mission
The mission of the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons is to serve the total visual health care needs of the people of California through public and professional education, membership services, and legislative advocacy. The California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons is dedicated to the public's direct access to an ophthalmologist's care.
Our Vision
The California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons is the leader in promoting visual health and accessible, affordable, quality total eye care for Californians.
Contact Us
Headquarters
1201 J Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95814
Correspondence and Accounting
425 Market Street, Suite 2275
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 777-3937
Fax: (415) 777-1082
CaEyeMDs@aol.com
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 Do You "Know Your 'O's?"
Think all eye doctors are the same? Think again.
Ophthalmologists are physicians and surgeons (MDs) who attend medical school and undergo, on average, TWICE the number of years of professional training as optometrists (ODs, who attend schools of optometry).
Learn More |
Senate Bill 1406 Stripped of All Surgery
Huge "Win" for Patient Safety
A bill that would have allowed optometrists to perform surgery, SB 1406, has been severely limited by amendment to allow only changes to the process by which optometrists are certified to treat glaucoma, certain non-surgical procedures and testing, and some additions to the limited formulary they are permitted to prescribe, as well as other minor changes.
Thanks to strong work on the part of a coalition of CAEPS, the California Medical Association (CMA), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the California Educators of Ophthalmology for Quality Care (Department Chairs of California university training programs), patient safety has come first in this process. The coalition was a formidable obstacle to organized optometry, forcing them to come to the table and negotiate.
Without our efforts, the bill could have let optometrists:
- Perform ALL EYE SURGERY;
- Perform injections, likely including intravitreal injections;
- Order ANY Diagnostic Test; and
- Treat nearly ALL types of glaucoma after only graduation from optometry school (or very limited undefined additional training).
In addition, the meaningless "oversight" mechanism originally proposed to "comment" on standards for the revised glaucoma certification process has been significantly strengthened to require the Board of Optometry to adopt the committee's recommendations (subject to amendment by the Office of Examination Resources to meet certain standards), and the nominees of CAEPS and the CMA must occupy the physician and surgeon positions on the committee, which make up half the appointments.
As with any negotiation process, certain other things like additions to the formulary, some diagnostic testing, various modifications of referral requirements, and minor non-surgical procedures were authorized without specific educational standards. CAEPS will, however, work with the Board of Optometry to attempt to establish such standards through the regulatory process.
Because of the changes to the bill, all the involved groups have dropped their opposition to the legislation, which has now passed both the Assembly and the Senate and is awaiting the Governor's signature.
Compromise Helps Maintain Access to Avastin for
Eye Disease
The California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (CAEPS) believes that Genentech’s recent decision to halt sales of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to compounding pharmacies would have have had a negative impact on the care of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other conditions with potentially blinding complications. It therefore responded to that action by issuing a Press Release and introducing an Emergency Resolution that was approved by both the Houses of Delegates of the California Medical Association (CMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) calling for those organizations to join in opposition to this move on the part of Genentech in late October and early November. It also called upon its members and the public to put pressure on Genentech to reconsider.
"We understand [Genentech’s] need to provide a reasonable return to [its] shareholders. However, we believe that need must be balanced by the needs of society, particularly patient access to appropriate off-label uses of medications based on an individual physician’s well-established ability to weigh the risks, benefits, and available evidence of a specific use as part of the ‘practice of medicine,’" wrote Howard R. Krauss, MD, CAEPS 2007 President, in a letter to Arthur D. Levinson, PhD, Genentech Inc.’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
CAEPS is therefore pleased that the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists were able to conclude with Genentech that physicians would be able to purchase the medication from an authorized distributor (known are AmerisourceBergen, McKesson Specialty Pharmaceutical, and Morris & Dickson) and provide it to a compounding pharmacy.
It should be noted, however, that direct availability to compounding pharmacies remains the most likely approach to both maximize patient access as well as minimize waste and inefficiency (and therefore cost), and CAEPS is monitoring ongoing activities of the US Senate Committee on Aging (which has an open investigation on this issue). However, the arrived at compromise will better assure patients retain the option of Avastin [vs. having access solely to Lucentis® (ranibizumab), which is far more expensive ($1500-2000/dose vs. $50-100/dose for Avastin)].
CAEPS is seeking a ruling from the state Board of Pharmacy as to the acceptability of the described practice and will report additional details as available.
April is "Working With Your Eye MD" Month
Detection of and treatment for any eye condition requires selecting the right eye care professional. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists (Eye MDs) are "eye doctors," but only an ophthalmologist may have the added years of training and experience and offer the full spectrum of treatments that your specific circumstances may require.
Yet, the treatment your ophthalmologist may prescribe can only be effective if you are involved in your care to the degree you feel comfortable following his or her instructions. Read more from EyeCare America.
President's Message
The California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (CAEPS) is the only statewide organization representing California ophthalmologists and their patients. CAEPS' activities include legislative advocacy, interaction with third party payers about reimbursement and coverage issues, public education about important eye health care concerns, and continuing medical education for ophthalmologists and their staffs.
An Invitation to You
As you visit the CAEPS web site, we invite you to learn more about the special training and expertise of an ophthalmologist in the delivery of medical and surgical eye care. The comprehensive ophthalmologist is truly the most highly trained provider of routine eye examinations and all refractive services, including eyeglasses and contact lenses and corrective corneal surgery, as well as medical or surgical care for eye disease. Vision is precious to all of us, and California's ophthalmologists are dedicated to providing the best possible care for this most valuable sense.
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of CAEPS is to promote the delivery of quality eye care in California. This mission is undertaken by CAEPS in the dynamic environment created by legislative action, allied health professionals, managed care effects on the delivery of eye care, and the changing therapies for the treatment of medical and surgical eye disease. We are privileged to live at a time when most potentially blinding eye disease can be controlled with proper and prompt diagnosis and treatment. CAEPS is dedicated to bring these benefits to the citizens of California.
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