When scope-of-practice rules change, can more eye doctors make laser eye care more available?
Official title: The Effects of Scope of Practice Regulations on Eye Health Care
Funded at Rand Corporation · NIH-11372629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how allowing optometrists to perform certain laser eye treatments could affect access to eye care and patient experience in glaucoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rand Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $509,833 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY037742-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372629 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include adults with glaucoma or other causes of visual impairment who live in states undergoing laser SOP reforms and who interact with laser eye services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in states without reforms or in settings with limited implementation may not experience improved access or outcomes.
What this research studies
This grant will examine how state laws permitting optometrists to perform laser eye procedures like SLT and LPI influence access to treatment and quality of care. Researchers will use existing data sources to link policy changes with county-level provider availability and Medicare usage over time. An event-study approach will analyze how reforms relate to where patients receive treatment and how convenient or satisfactory their care is, with attention to rural areas and disease stage. The work could inform policymakers and patients about the real-world impact of expanding who can provide laser glaucoma procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify whether expanding scope-of-practice improves access and quality of glaucoma care for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in health policy has shown mixed or context-specific effects of scope-of-practice changes on access and utilization.
Where this research is happening
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Rand Corporation
Santa Monica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Anthony — Rand Corporation
- Study coordinator: Yu, Anthony
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.