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: Amendments Revive Threat of Optometric Surgery and Unrestricted Glaucoma Treatment
About three weeks after SB 1406 was voted out of the Senate without any meaningful substance, the California Optometric Association amended the bill as it was about to be heard by the Assembly Business and Professions (B&P) Committee on June 24th. These amendments would have 1) again authorized functionally all eye surgery (including an explicit authorization of "therapeutic laser"), 2) relaxed patient protection referral requirements to an ophthalmologist for non-response to treatment by an optometrist, 3) allowed many new drugs (including oral steroids and antiglaucoma agents), and 4) allowed treatment of nearly ALL types of glaucoma (not just primary open-angle glaucoma) after [for new graduates] mere completion of four years of optometry school (instead of after completing an carefully outlined pathway developed in 2000 involving mentoring by an ophthalmologist over a number of years once graduation had occurred).
Discussions with organized medicine had broken down after the optimetrists refused a proposal by the California Medical Association (CMA) to have any new privileges for optometrists be under and regulated by the Medical Board of California. Just minutes prior to the hearing, however, apparently recognizing that the chair of the B&P Committee favored some type of oversight, the ODs became more willing to consider CMA's proposal, although not necessarily under the Medical Board. In addition, they quickly made apparent concessions with CMA on many of the more egregious provisions of the bill such as those permitting completely open-ended surgery and the "therapeutic laser" authorization, instead restricting this to a "wish list" of specific procedures [including biopsies, "nonintraorbital injections," (which could be intraocular) and "removal of skin tags"].
The bill then passed out of committee with the understanding it could be brought back before that body if there were no ultimate agreement on oversight. Since that time, amendments attempting to reflect what had been "agreed to" were published that suggest significant differences of mindset regarding what is intended to remain in the bill continue to exist.
CAEPS remains in a full "oppose" position on the most recent version, and is working with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the California Educators of Ophthalmology for Quality Care (chairs of the University programs) and CMA to help ensure that any surviving parts of SB 1406 do not threaten patient safety. Please monitor this site over the next few weeks to ensure you are kept aware of any need to urgently contact legislators or others regarding this overall misguided legislation.
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.
May is "Eye Safety Awareness" Month
 More than one million people suffer eye injuries each year in the United States. For example, many chemicals are extremely hazardous and can permanently destroy the surface of your eyes, resulting in blindness. Sports injuries are also common causes of eye damage.
Appropriate protective eyewear could prevent ninety percent of these injuries.
Read more about Eye Safety from EyeCare America.
Deep Medicare Cuts Threatening Patient Access Put Off Until Mid-Year
In the "eleventh hour," Congress approved legislation replacing a 10.1 percent cut in 2008 Medicare physician payments with a 0.5 percent increase through June 30, 2008. Unfortunately, it failed to make critical long-term improvements to the Medicare physician payment system that will help ensure that millions of Medicare beneficiaries maintain access to physicians by eliminating irrational fomula-driven payment cuts of up to 40% in coming years.
Please continue to monitor this site to see how you can assist in convincing Congress to address this ongoing threat to Seniors and the Disabled.
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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