Can your optometrist legally withhold your contacts prescription?

Question

My optometrist charges heaps for contacts so I wanted to purchase them elsewhere but they said they can withhold giving me my contacts prescription. Isn't there a law against that?

Answer 1

The federal law says that you can have it once the fitting is complete and all of your follow up visits are done and once you have paid for your exam.  State laws vary though, and take precedence over federal rules. So, check with the contact lense fairness laws, but also find out about what your state requires. Your doctor knows these rules as well. The doctor I work for will only release the contact lense info once your account is paid for and the proper fitting and folow ups are done. We really do not make much $ on contacts, so we do nto care if people get them elsewhere. It is sort of sad, but true.

Answer 2

The prescription can be withheld if there is a valid medical reason.  If the price is reasonably close, get them from your doc.  There have been product recalls in contact lenses and your doc is more likely to contact you if your lot of contacts has a problem.  Also, if your prescription changes or if you lose tolerance to your contacts, your doc might exchange them to another type.  I am sure your doc knows the laws of contact lens prescriptions in your area, so just talk to them... I am sure you are valued as a patient.

Answer 3

Here is the Federal Trade Commission Act:

Requires prescribers (such as optometrists and ophthalmologists) to provide patients with a copy of their contact lens prescription immediately upon completion of a contact lens fitting;

Requires prescribers to provide or verify contact lens prescriptions to any third party designated by a patient;

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/06/contactle...

Answer 4

Depends.  An optometrist can certainly withhold your prescription if there is a valid medical reason.  Remember, contacts are a privilege, not a right.  I won't make any judgments in this case based off what a patient says.  They've been known to be wrong, or at least misinformed.

Answer 5

Yes. It's called "The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act"

Google it and bring it to them. They legally have to give it to you if you paid for your exam.

Answer 6

No.  Under the law, they have to give you your prescription upon the final fitting visit.  And at your request.  So you have to ask for it.