Contact Lens Prescription Release Act of 2001

The Contact Lens Prescription Release Act of 2001 (H.R. 2663) was designed to increase consumer choice and transparency in the contact lens market. The bill would have required eye care providers to automatically give patients a copy of their contact lens prescription, including a two-year expiration date, allowing patients to shop for lenses at the retailer of their choice rather than being restricted to their prescriber’s office. Additionally, the legislation sought to protect public health by making it illegal for companies to advertise that contact lenses could be purchased without a valid prescription.