Prescriptions

Your Eyeglass Prescription: It's Yours To Keep

The Federal Trade Commission is the United States government's consumer protection agency, in 1980 the FTC's Prescription Release Rule became law. The three laws are related to the release of prescriptions for eyeglasse and contact lenses. Prescription Release Rule for eyeglasses is [16 CFR Part 456], the Contact Lens Rule [16 CFR Part 315], and Contact Lens Fairness Act* for contact lenses. All require both optometrists and ophthalmologists (eye doctors) to give patients/customers a copy of their eyeglasses prescription at the conclusion of an eye exam.

The rule is intended to protect the customer or patient of their eyeglass prescription, allowing them the right to use it to buy eyeglasses from the dealer/website/store of your choice.

Your doctor MUST give you a copy of the prescription regardless if you ask for it or not. Eye doctors may NOT set conditions of the release of your prescription on an agreement to buy glasses from them, nor can they charge you any fee to release your prescription. Another thing they cant do is, disclaim liability for the accuracy of the prescription if you decide to purchase glasses somewhere else.

The FTC enforces these three Release Rules, and doctors who violate, are subject to a civil penalty of $10,000.

If you feel your eye doctor has violated the rule, you can contact the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).