The end of the year is when many contact lens wearers realize they are almost out of lenses and want to reorder before the holidays, or before a plan year resets. That is a good moment to know your rights. A federal regulation, the Contact Lens Rule enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), spells them out.
You get a copy of your prescription
Under the Contact Lens Rule (16 CFR Part 315), the eye care professional who fits your lenses must give you a copy of your contact lens prescription when the fitting is complete, whether or not you ask for it. You can then buy lenses from the seller of your choice.
What a prescriber cannot require
The rule says a prescriber may not require you to buy contact lenses, pay an additional fee, or sign a waiver or release as a condition of giving you your prescription or verifying it for a seller. A prescriber may require payment for the exam and fitting before releasing the prescription, but only if the practice also requires immediate payment from patients whose exams show no need for corrective lenses.
How long a prescription lasts
A contact lens prescription generally must expire no sooner than one year after it is issued, or later if state law sets a longer period. A shorter expiration is allowed only when the prescriber documents a medical reason based on your eye health.
Why the fitting still matters
A contact lens prescription is different from a glasses prescription. It includes the lens brand, curvature and diameter, because a lens sits directly on the cornea. An outdated or poorly fitting lens can cause redness, discomfort and, in some cases, infection. That is why the yearly exam is about your eye health, not just paperwork.
Tips before you reorder
- Check the expiration date on your prescription.
- Do not stretch lenses past their replacement schedule to make a box last.
- Replace your lens case regularly and never use tap water on lenses.
- If your eyes are red or painful, stop wearing lenses and get seen before reordering.
A note on cost: prices for exams and lenses vary widely, and benefit plans have their own rules, so ask questions up front. This eye care cost blog covers several everyday cost questions.
Knowing your rights makes reordering easier. Keeping up with your exams keeps your eyes healthy enough to keep wearing lenses comfortably.
Source: 16 CFR Part 315 – Contact Lens Rule (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Federal Trade Commission rule)). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.