Staff of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent 37 letters to contact lens prescribers warning them of potential violations of the agency’s Contact Lens Rule. The 37 letters were based on consumer complaints and are not formal determinations that the recipients have violated the Contact Lens Rule or the Eyeglass Rule. The letters informed prescribers of their obligations under the Rules and warned them that violations of either Rule may result in legal action, including the issuance of administrative subpoenas and civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.

The Contact Lens Rule requires prescribers to give patients a copy of their prescription at the end of a fitting. The Eyeglass Rule requires prescribers to give patients a copy of their prescription after completing any refractive eye examination. Under both rules, prescribers are prohibited from charging additional fees or requiring a signed waiver for releasing prescriptions. The rules also prohibit prescribers from requiring a patient to buy contact lenses or eyeglasses from them and prohibit refusing to perform an eye exam unless the patient buys contact lenses or eyeglasses from them.