Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC seeks comments on Contact Lens Rule, (Aug 25, 2015)

By Michael Menzhuber, J.D., LL.M.

The FTC is seeking public comment on the efficiency, costs, benefits, and impact of the Contact Lens Rule, which has been effective since August 2004, the agency announced today. The request for comments is part of the agency’s systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides.

The Contact Lens Rule helps to promote competition in the contact lens market by requiring eye care prescribers (1) to provide a copy of a consumer’s prescription to the consumer after a contact lens fitting is completed and (2) to verify with, or provide prescriptions to, authorized contact lens sellers. The rule also requires contact lens sellers to sell lenses in accordance with a prescription the seller has received from the patient or prescriber, or has verified through direct communication with the prescriber.

Comments must be received by October 26, 2015. A Federal Register Notice, containing instructions for filing comments, will be published soon.

News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews