If asked, are opticians required to give you a copy of your prescription?

[Belle0101]

DS and I went last week for our annual exams and quite a few things just didn't set well with me, the last being when I asked for DS contact lens prescription today. I was told they don't "do that". That employee went to get another employee and she said they don't give it out until after an order for contacts has been placed and paid for.

She finally gave me a copy of it but as I mentioned, it's just one more thing that didn't quite seem right.

 

[mamacatnv]

My eye Dr has always charged a "fitting" fee for contacts and unless I paid that fee, they would not give me my contact RX, the fee was $60 - it always annoyed me and therefore I never ordered any of my optical supplies ie glasses, contacts etc from them, off to Costco and Sam's Club I went.

 

[clh2]

You are correct. Something does sound fishy.

I simply have not found an easy way on an iPad to post a link. Try googling optometrist prescription requirements. Perhaps add your state name.

In my state, i found this:


Vision FAQ - Wisconsin Optometric Association
www.woa-eyes.org › CONSUMER INFORMATION
Under Federal Law, an optometrist is required to release a patient's spectacle prescription. Under Wisconsin state law, optometrists are required to release a (etc)

I do not wear contacts, but is a fitting needed? I wonder if that is an issue.

 

[Belle0101]

My charges were:
Exam $89.00
Refraction 15.00
Fitting Fee 59.00

DS (he's 14) were:
Exam $89.00
Refraction 15.00
Fitting Fee 101.00

I was told my fitting fee was so much less because I had worn contacts before. I last wore them 25+ years ago and had told that to the eye doctor.

I was talking to a relative of mine and she thinks the Fitting Fee difference is because I only needed 10 minutes of training on how to put them in and take them out. (The training is taking them out and putting them in twice.) DS took longer because the trainer kept insisting he do it her way, the right way, and not the way I do it, the wrong way.

 

[aprilgail2]

My eye Dr charges 40.00 if you want them to give you the prescription and my mothers eye dr charges 50.00

 

[rwdavis2]

Find another optician. My ophthalmologist gives us a copy any time we want it. We buy our glasses as Costco.

 

[Micca]

Hmmm....I go to a neighborhood optician for exams. They do sell lenses and frames, but I ask for the Rx and they print it out for me, with a smile.

If they told me "we don't do that", I'd go elsewhere. Last time I had lenses made, Costco was $300 cheaper than the neighborhood outfit.

A few dollars difference? No problem, I'd pay for the convenience. For $300????

 

[Meldev]

Find another optician. My ophthalmologist gives us a copy any time we want it. We buy our glasses as Costco.

.

Same here!

 

[rwdavis2]

Hmmm....I go to a neighborhood optician for exams. They do sell lenses and frames, but I ask for the Rx and they print it out for me, with a smile.

If they told me "we don't do that", I'd go elsewhere. Last time I had lenses made, Costco was $300 cheaper than the neighborhood outfit.

A few dollars difference? No problem, I'd pay for the convenience. For $300????

Exactly. I would not be surprised if Costco and most any doctor's office have lenses made at the same place.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I had an eye doctor refuse to give me my prescription, so I just ordered them online because they are required to verify the prescription through 1-800- contacts or they ship them anyways

 

[Belle0101]

Thanks for the input everyone!

I searched around some , I know, I probably could have done that before posting but then what else would we have to talk about on a Friday night?

I found this on 1-800-Contacts (I snipped just a small part of the article):
http://www.1800contacts.com/connect/featured-articles/doctor/when-doc-says-no

2. Know The Law

The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act was signed by President Bush on December 6th, 2003 with an effective date of February 4th, 2004. It was written to protect you from the conflict of interest where eye doctors both prescribe and sell lenses. Here are your new rights under this law:

Right to Your Prescription
You have a right to your prescription automatically and unconditionally. Once your contact lens fitting is done, your eye doctor must give you a copy of your prescription — whether you ask for it or not – and without an extra fee or the need to sign a waiver or form."

There's a lot of useful information in the article, including that the prescription should include the brand name of the contacts. DS does not. Should I even mention that the doctor didn't sign it? The receptionist signed the doctor's name to it, right in front of us.

I'm looking for a new optician.

 

[wilkeliza]

The only thing I had an optician refuse was to give me my pupillary distance. Now I just go in knowing what they have to give me and make it very clear I am just there for my yearly exam and will be buying glasses elsewhere.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Actually they are required to give it to you whether you ask or not. I had just read this on my prescription that I had done last week. For eye glasses they must give it you after your exam, but they give you the contact prescription after your fitting is complete.

Not sure what the difference is between a "fitting" and an order for lenses, but I don't see that they can make you purchase any more than one set of lenses before releasing your prescription. I don't know what constitutes a completed fitting.

Check out these links:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0116-prescriptions-eye-glasses-and-contact-lenses

http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus63-complying-contact-lens-rule

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As far as I know it is the law. They cannot withhold your prescription. Every time I go I ask for my prescription, no matter if I am getting glasses with them or not.

 

[carmelhp]

Actually they are required to give it to you whether you ask or not. I had just read this on my prescription that I had done last week. For eye glasses they must give it you after your exam, but they give you the contact prescription after your fitting is complete.

Not sure what the difference is between a "fitting" and an order for lenses, but I don't see that they can make you purchase any more than one set of lenses before releasing your prescription. I don't know what constitutes a completed fitting.

Check out these links:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0116-prescriptions-eye-glasses-and-contact-lenses

http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus63-complying-contact-lens-rule

Yes, these are the applicable FTC rules, and the FTC is the enforcer of the federal rules. I always take a copy with me just in case. I had a local optometrist refuse to give me an eyeglass prescription and have carried a copy of the "eyeglass rule" with me for every subsequent visit. They seem to have learned their lesson as they don't even try to quibble any more but I do usually have to ask even though they are required to provide it at the end of my exam. I bought 5 pairs of glasses online from eyebuydirect.com, including prescription sunglasses and blue light blocking computer glasses from them for less than 1 pair of single vision generic glasses offered by the optometrist.

 

[tvguy]

I have always gotten a copy of my prescription, but until about 20 years ago I always went to an ophthalmologist, and they never sold contact or eye glasses, I always had to go to a dispensing company, (that did not do eye exams)

 

[North of Mouse]

I always keep an extra copy of my prescription with me in case of breakage or loss when I'm away from home. I've never been refused the actual prescription to fill it wherever I want, or a copy to keep with me.

 

[rickybobby]

Zenni Optical is a good place to purchase glasses, if anyone is interested. You can upload a picture of your face, and virtually try on the glasses to see how they look. Saved me hundreds of dollars.

 

[mischief32]

I just switched to a new eye Dr. After 20y due to this issue. I loved my old eye Dr but he passed unexpectedly about 10 yrs ago and someone else bought the business. It was okay for awhile but a few years ago my husband needed to replaces his glasses but did not needed a new exam because 2 years was not up yet. He called and they refused to give it to him. We went to Wal-Mart and were told they could not do that is it was not time for another exam yet. They called for him and got it done. This left a bad taste in my mouth. I kept going to them until they ordered the wrong contacts(multiracial which I do not needed yet) and I wore them and knew something was wrong. Went back by a d had to wait for them to get me some in. I then ordered online through their webpage and it came back not verified. To say the least I was not happy. I switched and am very please with new Dr.

 

[Tozzie]

My eye Dr charges 40.00 if you want them to give you the prescription and my mothers eye dr charges 50.00

Is that after the exam? Just for a copy of the presciption, if it is then that is illegal, the law was passed because many people were buying prescription contacts on line who didn't need them because they wanted to change their eye color but the law requires them to give you the prescription. I never ask for the prescription because my contacts have to be custom made and they cost the same regardless if I order them on line or through the DR.