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Letter from America
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American optometry bodies have given their backing to a bill sponsored by a Republican senator to give consumers greater protection when buying contact lenses from third party vendors such as online and mail-order companies
The Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act which has been tabled in the Senate earlier this month by Senator Ed Whitfield of the Kentucky First District has been endorsed by three American optical bodies - the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Kentucky Optometric Association.
The Whitfield bill seeks to strengthen consumer safeguards on the contact lens prescription verification practices being used by third-party vendors that allow for orders to be filled without a prescription or overfilled beyond what was directed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The bill is a direct response to the rising number of complaints against online contact lens seller being reported by US optometrists and patients about such practices.
'Prescription verification abuse by third-party contact lens vendors is a significant problem,' said Whitfield. 'Completing contact lens sales without properly verifying a patient's prescription is an unacceptable business practice and clearly contrary to the best interest of consumers' health. This legislation will facilitate communication between doctors and third-party vendors, ensuring that patients receive products that are safe and compatible with their documented medical history."
The American Optometric Association, which represents 34,000 frontline providers of eye and vision care in communities across America, said urgent action was necessary to clamp down companies who continue to flout existing regulations.
'Doctors, patients, manufacturers and even sellers themselves have reported serious violations of the law by Internet and mail order contact lens sales companies,' said Dr Joe Ellis, an optometrist and trustee of the American Optometric Association. 'By sponsoring legislation to crack down on unscrupulous contact lens sellers, Congressman Whitfield is taking decisive action to safeguard the eye health of my patients and contact lens patients across America.'
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