In the past few months, I've gotten a number of emails and instant messages from people who have had their prescriptions "held hostage" at the optical shop. It's been awhile since I've seen anything like this. It makes me think that these stores are starting to feel the combined pinch of the economy (that we've all been feeling for the last year or so) and that the online eyeglasses retailers are taking market share at an faster rate.
Either way, there is no excuse for holding these prescriptions and frankly -- in the United States at least -- it's against the law.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission enforces the so-called "Eyeglass Rule" which requires eye doctors to provide their patients (stop thinking of us as "customers") "one copy" of the prescription at the end of the eye exam.
If you EVER get any attitude or have your prescription held against your will CALL the Federal Trade Commission at 202-326-3528 or 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Here is the statute:
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
PART 456--OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES--
Sec. 456.2 Separation of examination and dispensing.
It is an unfair act or practice for an ophthalmologist or optometrist to:
(a) Fail to provide to the patient one copy of the patient's prescription immediately after the eye examination is completed.
Provided: An ophthalmologist or optometrist may refuse to give the patient a copy of the patient's prescription until the patient has paid for the eye examination, but only if that ophthalmologist or optometrist would have required immediate payment from that patient had the examination revealed that no ophthalmic goods were required;
(b) Condition the availability of an eye examination to any person on a requirement that the patient agree to purchase any ophthalmic goods from the ophthalmologist or optometrist;
(c) Charge the patient any fee in addition to the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's examination fee as a condition to releasing the prescription to the patient. Provided: An ophthalmologist or optometrist may charge an additional fee for verifying ophthalmic goods dispensed by another seller when the additional fee is imposed at the time the verification is performed; or
(d) Place on the prescription, or require the patient to sign, or deliver to the patient a form or notice waiving or disclaiming the liability or responsibility of the ophthalmologist or optometrist for the accuracy of the eye examination or the accuracy of the ophthalmic goods and services dispensed by another seller.
Revised as of January 1, 1999]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR456.2]
[Page 453]
A note to optometrists out there; Start charging the appropriate amount for an eye exam and be up front about it. The more educated people get, and the more you try to hide your motives, the more you'll be hurting in the end.
Also, we, as patients, need to start lobbying for the PD (pupillary distance) to be included in the exam -- they have it and there is no extra work on their part to add it to the prescription card.
