Optometrist or Optician Holding Your Prescription Hostage? Call the FTC.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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FTC,
pd,
prescription
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6
comments
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.
PD- They *don't have it.
It must be measured.
But there is NO reason for it to be measureed in a refraction.
Just line up the phorpter and go.
Opticians usually handle this measurement.
If you want, upload your picture and the online site will measure it for you.
I hope you like your on-line eyewear.
If you decide that your vision and appearance is more important than the dollars saved, we'll be there with the expertise, selection and service that you'll want.
Barry Santini
ABOM
Master Optician
NYS Licensed Optician
Good eyewear costs. It's just that many of you have *not* ever had the opportunity to experience truly fine eyewear. If you had, then online eyewear would take its rightful place alongside of fast food - Cheap & adequate. But not great.
mmmmnope,
can't agree with you there, Barry.
Now I'm not sure I've ever had what you call "fine eyewear", but i've payed $400 for glasses a few times, and my new $15 pairs from "on-line" are every bit as good.
I even have some friends who've paid top dollar for glasses at the hippest stores in philly.
...we're all Zenni converts now.
The simple fact is that you are ripping us off. Charge $50-100 if you need to, but there is no excuse for charging $500 for what can be made for less than $20.
vision? works fine for me
appearance?...are you saying my personal taste is worse than an opticians?
I'll have you know that I'm quite capable of picking out a pair of glasses that don't look hideous on me.
I'm with Jim.
I've paid upwards of $350 for eyeglasses from an optician for years, until I discovered online eyewear. The pair I got for $70 is just as "fine" as what I was paying through the nose for previously, and I'm not obligated to pay storefront rents for opticians that decide they need to be located in prime real estate.
Online eyewear? Really?
Does no one have any class anymore? And nevermind supporting local businesses, that's not important. American jobs aren't important. Or quality, customer service, or the ability to return to an eye care practitioner if you need adjustments or are having problems with your new glasses.
None of that is important. Lets all just go to the online bargain basement Zenni. By the way, those glasses look cheap, and make you look cheap.
@anonymous (obviously),
What really gets me is so few of you in the optical industry have the huevos to use your real name. You anonymously stand behind the flag and name-call. How incredibly cowardly.
This argument has been beaten to death.
Oh, and by the way, those "cheap glasses" are one of the very few name brand frames I own. I could have bought these in your store -- if I'd wanted to pad your wallet (which I would never want to). As it was, they were VERY inexpensive.
Have a nice day.
I don't have a problem with my local optician making a profit because they do provide good customer service. But if they have been making a HUGE profit on me and other loyal customers all these years just because they could, then I have no problem going online. If they want to bring their prices more in line with the online stores I will gladly buy several pairs from my local optician. Wouldn't that be in their best interest? At their current prices I would buy 1 pair of glasses or maybe just new lenses only when my prescription changed. Cut the profit margin, and you'll sell more merchandise.
Satisfied online customer