Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Contact Lenses

Contact Lenses

                        Types of Contact Lenses
          Decorative Contact Lenses for Halloween and More
          Contact Lens Prescription
          Buying Contact Lenses
          Contact Lens Solutions and Products
          Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
          Contact Lens Risks
          Everyday Eye Care
          List of Contact Lenses
          Contact Lenses: Links
          Contact Lenses: Report a Problem Home
          Medical Devices
          Products and Medical Procedures
          Home Health and Consumer Devices
          Consumer Products
          Contact Lenses
          Contact Lens PrescriptionContact Lenses Contact Lens Prescription
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintWhen you get an eye exam, the prescriber is required to give you a copy of your contact lens prescription when the fitting is complete, even if you don’t ask for it. You can use this prescription at another vendor or to order contact lenses on the Internet, over the phone, or by mail. See Buying Contact Lenses.

As defined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the contact lens rule, a prescription should contain sufficient information for a seller to completely and accurately fill the prescription. This includes the following items:

Patient's name
	Examination date
	Date patient receives prescription after a contact lens fitting (issue date) and expiration date of prescription
	Name, address, phone number and fax number of prescriber
	Power of the prescribed contact lenses
	Material and/or manufacturer of the prescribed contact lens
	Base curve or appropriate designation of the prescribed contact lens
	Diameter, when appropriate, of the prescribed contact lens
	For a private label contact lens, the name of the manufacturer, trade name of the private label brand, and if applicable, trade name of equivalent brand nameFTC and The Contact Lens Rule

After giving you a copy of your prescription, prescribers who sell lenses or have a direct or indirect financial interest in the sale of contact lenses are required to ask you to sign a confirmation that you received the prescription.  The prescriber must  keep the signed confirmation  for at least three years. Sellers must take steps to verify the contact lens prescription, as described in the FTC’s rule.

Additional Information from FTC

FTC Consumer Information: Prescription Glasses and Contact Lenses
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Complying with the Contact Lens Rule
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

FTC Consumer Information: Contact Lens Rule updates
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      10/28/2020
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Medical Devices
			  			     			  						              
			
			
			
			
			
			
			  
			  OphthalmicContact Lenses

          
                        Types of Contact Lenses
          Decorative Contact Lenses for Halloween and More
          Contact Lens Prescription
          Buying Contact Lenses
          Contact Lens Solutions and Products
          Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
          Contact Lens Risks
          Everyday Eye Care
          List of Contact Lenses
          Contact Lenses: Links
          Contact Lenses: Report a Problem
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop