15 USC § 7601 - Availability of contact lens prescriptions to patients

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s7601"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 7601 - Availability of contact lens prescriptions to patients"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "7601"
section_name: "Availability of contact lens prescriptions to patients"
chapter_number: 102
chapter_name: "FAIRNESS TO CONTACT LENS CONSUMERS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 108–164, § 2, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)"
---


# § 7601. Availability of contact lens prescriptions to patients

**(a)** **In general** When a prescriber completes a contact lens fitting, the prescriber—

**(1)** whether or not requested by the patient, shall provide to the patient a copy of the contact lens prescription; and

**(2)** shall, as directed by any person designated to act on behalf of the patient, provide or verify the contact lens prescription by electronic or other means.

**(b)** **Limitations** A prescriber may not—

**(1)** require purchase of contact lenses from the prescriber or from another person as a condition of providing a copy of a prescription under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) or verification of a prescription under subsection (a)(2);

**(2)** require payment in addition to, or as part of, the fee for an eye examination, fitting, and evaluation as a condition of providing a copy of a prescription under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) or verification of a prescription under subsection (a)(2); or

**(3)** require the patient to sign a waiver or release as a condition of verifying or releasing a prescription.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 108–164, § 2, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

> “This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note below] shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

### Short Title

> “This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note above] may be cited as the ‘Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act’.”

, , , provided that: