WASHINGTON D.C.—The FTC’s Contact Lens Rule amendments will become effective on April 1, 2021 and the American Optometric Association is reminding doctors that they must ensure their adherence to long-standing FCLCA requirements to provide patients with a copy of their contact lens prescription upon completion of a contact lens fitting. Under FCLCA, doctors are also required to provide a copy of a contact lens prescription to anyone designated as a patient’s agent. VMAIL reported last December that Congress took action “to delay the implementation, effective date and enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) updated Contact Lens Rule until March 31, 2021" due to the challenges of the pandemic.

The AOA is urging doctors to prepare for compliance on April 1. They can refer to the AOA's FTC Rule Compliance Toolkit which can be found here.