1-800 chief executive Jonathan Coon's statement to the press

Here is an edited version of the press statement on 1-800’s web site:

‘We thought a legislative resolution to 'doctors only' lenses was pending,’ explained Coon. ‘Unfortunately, the effort to allow all 35 million Americans who wear contacts to separate the purchase of lenses from the eye exam is not yet over.

'The US Senate included in an appropriations bill language that would have closed the 'doctors only' lenses loophole in the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) by codifying the consent decrees reached by the attorneys general.

‘This legislation would have made the terms of the attorneys general settlements, which already apply to 80% of all lenses sold, permanent and extended the same terms to all manufacturers.