August 27, 2025
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the California Optometric Association (COA) celebrated the adoption of new California State Board of Optometry regulations the association championed, authorizing optometrists to use noninvasive radiofrequency (RF) technology to treat dry eye disease. For years, COA and its members have advocated to expand patients’ access to vision care services that can be safely performed by doctors of optometry who have extensive training and education. RF technology is an example of innovative technologies and care that can be performed by optometrists, rather than forcing patients into long waits or long drives to be treated by specialty care physicians.
“Optometrists are on the frontlines of diagnosing and treating eye diseases, and this decision by the Board of Optometry ensures that Californians who struggle with dry eye disease have access to safe and effective advanced treatment options in their local eye doctors’ office,” said COA President Brian Park, OD. “COA thanks the California State Board of Optometry for recognizing the need to make care accessible to patients, and offering optometrists another treatment option to improve patient eye care.”
“Dry eye disease can be debilitating, and for too long, patients had limited treatment options,” said Dr. Park. “Expanding access to radiofrequency treatment will allow doctors of optometry to provide patients relief, better vision, and improved quality of life.”
Dry eye affects an estimated 16 million adults nationwide, with symptoms ranging from irritation and redness to fluctuating vision and eye pain. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, the most common cause of dry eye disease, is caused by blocked or poorly functioning oil glands in the eyelids. Radiofrequency technology uses controlled heat to liquefy and express clogged glands to support long-term eye health. The treatment has been shown to be safe and effective, particularly for patients who have not found relief with alternative therapies. The new regulations go into effect on October 1, 2025.
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Contact: Randall Echevarria, randall@paschalroth.com
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Chief Strategy Officer
Dr. Lance Anderson is the Chief Strategy Officer at PECAA, where he is engaged in all aspects of company strategy. He co-founded PECAA in 2007 and helped lead the organization as it grew from a small local Portland study group to a national alliance of independently owned eye care practices. He served as a board member of Rev-360 from 2015 – 2021 and helped oversee the management and successful sale of Revolution EHR, Visionary Partners, and eventually PECAA.
He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in 1991. He started his own optometry practice in 1993 in Hillsboro, OR, and was able to grow the practice into a busy three-doctor clinic. He retired from clinical care in 2021 and then moved to New York City where he was tasked with helping to integrate PECAA with the HEA buying group. He recently moved to Nashville, TN where he will continue to be actively involved in creating the future vision for PECAA as it is integrated into the VSP family of businesses.
Chief Member Experience Officer
Dr. Justin Manning is the Chief Member Experience Officer at PECAA, where he leads the member experience team, encompassing member education, the Member Business Advisory services, Events, and the Cold Start program. He is the founder and host of the Practice Advantage podcast. Prior to joining PECAA, he founded The Keratoconus and Scleral Lens Institute at Bettner Vision in Colorado Springs, and eyeLeader, a consulting company focused on leadership development, technology in eyecare, and population health.
He has contributed to Review of Optometric Business and has lectured nationally and internationally on specialty contact lenses, design thinking, population health, and the patient experience. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from The Ohio State University and completed a residency in Geriatric Optometry at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in Tacoma, WA, a Master of Public Health degree at Salus University, and a graduate certificate in Customer Experience from the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business. He is driven to help all independent eye care professionals grow their businesses and enjoy their practices every single day.
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