Federal Trade Commission Reaffirms That Preserving Consumer Choice Should Be Top Priority in New Rule
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tens of millions of Americans who wear contact lenses will benefit from action just taken by the Federal Trade Commission in Washington. Under a new rule issued by the Commission, optometrists will continue to be required by law to hand patients a copy of their prescription for contact lenses so those patients can decide for themselves where to purchase their lenses.
But in a significant change, the Commission is proposing that optometrists now also be required to obtain a patient's signature acknowledging that their optometrist provided the prescription. This is because many optometrists do not provide patients with their prescriptions despite being required to by law, because optometry offices actually make the majority of their revenue from selling contact lenses, not providing eye care services.
"This is a significant change and a real win for consumers," said Cary Samourkachian, CEO of Las Vegas-based Lens.com. "Back in 2003, Congress passed The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA), which required optometrists to hand patients their contact lens prescription, so that patients could comparison shop for a better price. The law created a thriving, robust marketplace in which new market entrants and vigorous competition has driven prices down for consumers."
"The Federal Trade Commission has been working on this Rule for a year and looking into the behavior of optometrists and has found what we have known for years: many do not provide their patents with prescriptions as required by law," Samourkachian said.
About Lens.com, Inc.
Based in Las Vegas, Lens.com, Inc., a leading online destination for contact lenses since 1995, is the nation's 2nd largest online retailer for contact lenses offering consumers all the popular brands of contact lenses at wholesale prices with convenient quick delivery. Through its easy-to-use website www.Lens.com and its toll-free telephone number "1-800 LENS.COM" (1-800-536-7266), the company provides the very best in competitive pricing, convenience, and personalized customer service. Lens.com is a privately held U.S. corporation.
JANET WEBSTER
888-812-9480 / [email protected]
SOURCE Lens.com, Inc.
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