Corrective Lens - U.S. Legal Requirements For Prescriptions

U.S. Legal Requirements For Prescriptions

In the U.S., laws at the federal and state level govern the provision and effective dates of prescriptions for contact lenses and eyeglasses. (These consumer protection laws grew out of the practice of tying lens purchases to prescription services.) Federal law requires that eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions be given to every consumer, and that the prescriptions be for a minimum of one year. (FTC Section 456.2 “Separation of examination and dispensing” was reviewed in 2004: FTC 2004 review of section 456.2)).

State laws vary. For example, California law also requires prescriptions to be provided to clients whether demanded or not. Eyeglass prescriptions must be for a minimum of 2 years, and contact prescriptions must be for a minimum of 1 year. See Business and Professions Code Section 2541.1.