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Welcome to the website of ROATx Legislative Initiatives.
A letter from the ROATx Legislative Chairman
Opticians provide vital optical services to the public. From the fitting of contact lenses to the fabrication and final fit of eyewear, the profession is responsible for providing the visual aids needed by 75% of the population.*
Opticians are responsible for evaluating the visual tasks of each patient, then recommend and take critical measurements and verify the final product is accurate and fit as prescribed. There are thousands of lens/frame combinations available. An optician must be able to assist in the proper frame selection for a given lens design. There are hundreds of different progressive lens designs alone. Each has its own characteristics. If not properly measured, or if the frame is not aligned and adjusted with proper lens tilting, visual performance is compromised.
The public believes opticianry requires an education and degree. Sadly, in Texas, not even a high school diploma is required to present yourself as an “optician”. The fact is, nothing more than a pulse is required. For the public welfare and safety, regulation and licensure should be a requirement in our state when performing opticianry tasks.
We’ve had voluntary registration in Texas for over ten years now. It’s gone from a high of 3000, to the present number of around 300. Obviously, voluntary registration does not accomplish its intended goal of protecting the public. This is why Mandatory Optician Licensure is the only way to insure an educated, accredited and accountable person is allowed to provide opticianry services to the public.
Opticians are one of the only healthcare related fields that does not require training and licensure. Optician Licensure will ensure protection of the public and preserve the practice of opticianry. I hope you’ll join me in seeing this initiative though…
On these pages, we hope to keep you up to date and share with you ways you can get involved. From the simple (like sending an e-mail) or get more involved (join us at the capitol and do some talking!). Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Best Regards!
George Karber
ROATx Legislative Chairman
optical247@hotmail.com
*Vision Council of America
State Licensure – How You Can Help
- Become a ROATx member (www.roatx.org/) or get on our e-blast list. This will help us all coordinate across the state so we can speak as one at the right time.
- Go to the ROATx website, download and use our “Rx Analysis Form”. You use this form to document incorrectly made eyewear. Fill it out, give a copy to the patient for the remake then fax a copy to ROATx. This is a powerful tool for us in Austin!
- Join us in Austin! We make monthly trips to the capitol. Come with us to speak to your representatives. Let them know you care. Just go to the calendar to see when we’ll be going next, or contact ROATx.
As one, we are powerless. But as a team, we can overcome our obstacles. We need you to help us get there. There are many ways each of us can contribute. Tell as many patients that you can of your qualifications, that you’re certified by the ABO and registered with the state. Let them know of the lack of laws in Texas for being an “optician”. Write or talk to your local state rep, and write your local paper to let the public know that their eye wear is un-regulated. We need a public campaign to off set the very real corporate and other association’s lobbies. But we can prevail with a concerted effort from you!
Don’t know who is your state senator or representative? It’s easy! Just go to the Texas state Who Represents Me? website and type in your address.
Rx Analysis Form: A Powerful Tool
ROATx developed the Rx Analysis form to aid opticians when verifying Rx complaints. We’ve all seen eyewear made incorrectly. This give you a professional form to present the patient so they may get exact corrections made to their glasses.
This is also a powerful tool we use in Austin. It gives us documented proof of eyewear not filled accurately. Help us prove to legislators that glasses are made incorrectly everyday.
- Download the Rx Analysis Form
- Fill it out
- Give the patient a copy
- Cut off the patient’s name at the top and fax it to the ROATx office at 512-420-0262.
It’s that easy! Look organized and professional to your patients and help licensure efforts with your documented proof of incorrectly made eyewear.