The IRS after pressure from the AOA has decided to remove discriminatory references to doctors of optometry in its annual tax guideline documentation. Previously, the IRS referred to eye doctors as solely ophthalmologists and referenced optometrists as a separate entity; however, now, the IRS will include optometrists in it’s inclusion of eye doctors as well. Dr. Jordan of the AOA composed a letter to IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman drawing attention to the fact that optometrists are licensed by state authorities as eye doctors to manage, treat, and diagnose disorders and disease of the eye, visual pathways and associated structures.
By: Antonio Chirumbolo, Content Coordinator, SUNY 2013
