On the 4th of February 2004, the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, also known as FCLCA, became law. The Act requires that all eye doctors and practitioners, issue their eye patients prescriptions of their contact lenses. Moreover, it necessitates sellers of contact lenses, whether these are linser på nett or not, to validate the lens prescriptions prior to selling and releasing them to their customers.
The Federal Trade Commission imposes the Eyeglass Rule as well as the Contact Lens Rule, wherein you are given the right to obtain and be provided a copy of your lens prescription from your eye specialist and/or doctor even if you don’t request for without any charge. By doing so, you are able to purchase your glasses and/or contact lenses in various shops.
Your Rights Under the Eyeglass and Contact Lens Rules by the FTC
When and if you go for eye glass or contact lens fitting, your eye doctor is obligated to furnish you a copy of your lens prescription, whether or not you ask for and/or need it, without paying anything for it, or buying glasses or contact lenses in exchange for it, and/signing a form or waiver.
Why Do you Need a Prescription?
You as a consumer have a choice. This means that you aren’t obligated to only purchase your glasses and/or contact lenses from your eye doctor. You could make use of your prescription to purchase glasses and/or contact lenses anywhere they’re sold, whether it’s from another eye doctor or specialist, from an eyeglass shop, or even online, since styles, quality as well as cost could considerably vary from one seller to another.
What is Written in your Prescription?
Below is what you should see in your eye glass or contact lens prescription, which must be given to you after your fitting:
- Your complete name
- The date of your eye exam
- The issuing date of your prescription as well as its expiration
- Your eye doctor’s or prescriber’s complete name, postal address, and their contact numbers
For contact lenses:
- The power of the lens prescribed, the material and/or the manufacturer, brand name
- The appropriate designation or base curve of the contact lens
- The diameter of the contact lens, when appropriate
For eye glasses:
The details needed in an eye glass prescription is determined by the law of the state. Eye doctors may include the pupillary distance of the patient’s eyes, since if you would want to purchase eye glasses online, you will be needing that measurement. Several eye doctors don’t require you to pay for the measurement. If your eye doctor does charge you for it, a number of online sellers refunds that cost.