There are two types of professionals who treat eye problems and we'll find out about both.


BELINDA ZORDAN: It was business as usual at Simon Hurwood's Brisbane practice. But according to the Optometrists' Association, that's anything but good news.

For five years now the group has been campaigning for optometrists in Queensland to be given the right to prescribe therapeutic eye drops.

SIMON HURWOOD, OPTOMETRIST: The sort of conditions we were going to be able to treat were things like glaucoma, which is where the pressure in the eye increases and that can cause blindness if not treated properly. We're talking about things like inflammatory conditions that cause the eyes to get very red and sore.

BELINDA ZORDAN: Optometrists have been fighting for the right to prescribe eye drops because they say they're on the front line, and would help take the pressure off waiting lists. In March, they thought they'd won that fight when the state government promised to amend the Drugs and Poisons Regulations to allow optometrists to administer eye medication. But last month the health minister changed his mind.

GREG JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPTOMETRISTS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA: Well it's devastating, it just seems senseless that someone should have to wait in a queue at a public hospital when a properly trained optometrist can provide that care immediately.

BELINDA ZORDAN: Ophthalmologists like Doctor Peter Cranstoun don't regret their united stand, insisting a board made up of independent medical experts should decide the drugs optometrists can safely use.

He has serious reservations about the idea of letting optometrists who have not been to medical school prescribe drugs.

DR PETER CRANSTOUN, OPTOMOLOGIST: We feel in reality it's only fair that with this potential for problems to occur that there should be some advisory board to monitor and regulate things.

DR PETER CRANSTOUN: You would have to understand that it was a very hard decision to make, but our main concern was and still remains public safety and we felt too much was being given too quickly.

BELINDA ZORDAN: The Optometrists' Association says the government's back flip will do far more harm than good. They argue Queenslanders would have to wait for months on public waiting lists for procedures they could perform in minutes if the new board restricts their access to medication.

GREG JOHNSON: What we see here is a health profession that is prepared to go out and make a difference in the community, and to suggest in any way that optometrists are going to cause mischief or mayhem to people's eyes is just ridiculous.

GORDON NUTTALL: We've talked about turf warfare and this is exactly what this is. I mean I would rather see ophthalmologists focusing on the real serious problems around eyes where as the prescription of drugs, with the proper training could be done by optometrists.

BELINDA ZORDAN: Concerns have also been raised that those living in regional areas will miss out on important medical treatment.

SIMON HURWOOD: Many country areas don't have any ophthalmologists, public or private, and at the moment they have to drive many many kilometres or they just don't get the eye care at all.

BELINDA ZORDAN: Ophthalmologists say they're looking at addressing the problem, but until something is done rural patients may have to rely on general practitioners for serious eye problems.