University of New Hampshire Survey Center
December 10, 2025
New UNH Poll: More Than Three Quarters of Granite Staters Oppose Legislation Allowing Non-Medical Doctors to Perform Eye Surgery
New Hampshire residents prioritize surgical safety over convenience by a wide margin.
DURHAM, N.H. – A new poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center reveals overwhelming bipartisan opposition to legislation that would expand the scope of practice for optometrists, allowing them to perform surgeries currently restricted to medical doctors and trained surgeons.
The survey of 1,402 New Hampshire residents paints a clear picture for lawmakers considering the proposal: 76% of residents oppose legislation allowing non-medical doctors to perform eye surgery, while only 8% support the measure.
New Hampshire legislators are considering HB 349, a bill that would do exactly that—allow optometrists, who are not medical doctors, to perform certain laser eye surgeries.
"This data confirms what we hear from our patients every day: they understand the profound difference between a routine eye exam and a surgical procedure," said Sivashakthi Maeder, MD, President of the New Hampshire Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (NHSEPS). “Not many people think it is a good idea to not have a medical doctor perform surgery on their eyes.”
"When it comes to a scalpel or a laser touching their eye, Granite Staters unequivocally want a medical doctor with years of surgical residency training. They see this legislation for what it is, a dangerous shortcut that gambles with patient safety."
Safety Over Convenience
The poll results show that New Hampshire residents care deeply about their provider’s medical training. When asked to choose between surgical expertise and location, 88% of residents said having surgery performed by a licensed medical doctor is more important to them. Only 4% said they would prioritize a "close or convenient location" if it meant the provider was not a medical doctor.
“The University of New Hampshire survey confirms what physicians across the state have long understood: patients want the highest standards of safety when it comes to surgery,” said Cathy Stratton, CEO of the New Hampshire Medical Society. “Training, education, and clinical skill matter to the people of New Hampshire, and every legislator should pause, reflect, and listen. Vision is precious, and just like our elected leaders, residents want assurance that a highly trained eye physician with proper experience and medical education is performing their eye surgery.”
Rejecting Regulatory Changes
Beyond the procedures themselves, residents strongly oppose removing medical oversight from the regulatory process. The poll found that 80% of residents oppose giving regulatory authority for eye surgery to a state board that includes no medical doctors or surgeons.
“The survey results demonstrate there is significant public concern about expanding eye surgery to non-physicians in New Hampshire. More than three-quarters of residents oppose the idea, and nearly nine in ten say surgeon training matters more than the convenience of obtaining eye surgery. From a voter standpoint, there appears to be little support for this type of legislative change and, in fact, there is widespread concern about allowing non-physicians to conduct eye surgery,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center.
Other findings
The survey also suggests that voting to expand the scope of surgery for non-medical professionals carries political risk.
59% of respondents say they would be less likely to vote for their state legislator if they voted to allow non-medical doctors to perform eye surgery.
Only 6% said such a vote would increase their support for a legislator.
Methodology
These findings are based on a survey conducted by the UNH Survey Center between November 13 and November 17, 2025. The survey included 1,402 New Hampshire residents with a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.6%.