Congress recently passed an Act that gives contact lenses wearers increased freedom to purchase their lenses from retailers other than their eye doctor. The "Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act" makes it easier and cheaper for consumers to shop for contact lenses based on price and convenience.

The new federal law requires eye doctors, at the conclusion of the fitting, to automatically provide each patient with a copy of his or her own contact lens prescription whether or not the patient asks for a copy. The new law generally prohibits eye doctors from making the release or verification of a patient's contact lens prescription conditional. As a condition of releasing or verifying a contact lens prescription, eye doctors:

• May not charge the patient a fee
• May not require the patient to purchase contact lenses from them
• May not require the patient to sign a waiver or release
• May not write an expiration date of less than one year unless there is a specific medical reason.

Eye care providers are now required to verify a consumer's prescription when requested to do so by that consumer's chosen retailer. A prescription is now considered verified if an eye care professional does not respond to a seller's verification request within 8 business hours after its receipt. Violations of the new federal law are considered unfair or deceptive acts or practices, subject to the enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission.