15 U.S.C. § 7601 : Commerce And Trade — Fairness To Contact Lens Consumers — Availability Of Contact Lens Prescriptions To Patients


(a) In general
When a prescriber completes a contact lens fitting, the prescriber—

(1) whether or not requested by the patient, shall provide to the patient a copy of the contact lens prescription; and

(2) shall, as directed by any person designated to act on behalf of the patient, provide or verify the contact lens prescription by electronic or other means.


(b) Limitations
A prescriber may not—

(1) require purchase of contact lenses from the prescriber or from another person as a condition of providing a copy of a prescription under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) or verification of a prescription under subsection (a)(2);

(2) require payment in addition to, or as part of, the fee for an eye examination, fitting, and evaluation as a condition of providing a copy of a prescription under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) or verification of a prescription under subsection (a)(2); or

(3) require the patient to sign a waiver or release as a condition of verifying or releasing a prescription.

(Pub. L. 108–164, § 2, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)


Effective Date

Pub. L. 108–164, § 12, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2028, provided that:

“This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note below] shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 6, 2003].”


Short Title

Pub. L. 108–164, § 1, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024, provided that:

“This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note above] may be cited as the ‘Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act’.”


SECTIONS