Expired Rx, again.

[Snitgirl]

an expiration date, I pause a moment, and open my dispensing drawer. I take out a little pocket calendar and begin writing in it, while saying the following:

Optician (me): "Oh, I see that your prescriber has included an expiration date on your eyewear Rx. I'm going to mark that June, 2008 date in my pocket calendar."
Client: "Why?"
Me: "If your Doctor feels that it would possibly comprimise your eye-health for me to *duplicate* this Rx after this date, then I do not want to to let these eyeglasses endanger your health through your continuing to wear them after this important date. I'll even make a house call to you to ensure you don't wear them even one more day than your Doctor feels is appropriate."
Client: "This is preposterous!"
Me: "Absolutely not! In fact, while I'm at your door, I even pick up any older *spare* pairs that you might have left around. When eyewear is akin to medicine, there's nothing healthy to be gained using a *medication* passed its expiration date!"

Whew!!!.....what utter nonsense!

Barry

lol

[LENNY]

an expiration date, I pause a moment, and open my dispensing drawer. I take out a little pocket calendar and begin writing in it, while saying the following:

Optician (me): "Oh, I see that your prescriber has included an expiration date on your eyewear Rx. I'm going to mark that June, 2008 date in my pocket calendar."
Client: "Why?"
Me: "If your Doctor feels that it would possibly comprimise your eye-health for me to *duplicate* this Rx after this date, then I do not want to to let these eyeglasses endanger your health through your continuing to wear them after this important date. I'll even make a house call to you to ensure you don't wear them even one more day than your Doctor feels is appropriate."
Client: "This is preposterous!"
Me: "Absolutely not! In fact, while I'm at your door, I even pick up any older *spare* pairs that you might have left around. When eyewear is akin to medicine, there's nothing healthy to be gained using a *medication* passed its expiration date!"

Whew!!!.....what utter nonsense!

Barry

You are AMAIZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:bbg: :bbg: :shiner: :shiner:

[HarryChiling]

an expiration date, I pause a moment, and open my dispensing drawer. I take out a little pocket calendar and begin writing in it, while saying the following:

Optician (me): "Oh, I see that your prescriber has included an expiration date on your eyewear Rx. I'm going to mark that June, 2008 date in my pocket calendar."
Client: "Why?"
Me: "If your Doctor feels that it would possibly comprimise your eye-health for me to *duplicate* this Rx after this date, then I do not want to to let these eyeglasses endanger your health through your continuing to wear them after this important date. I'll even make a house call to you to ensure you don't wear them even one more day than your Doctor feels is appropriate."
Client: "This is preposterous!"
Me: "Absolutely not! In fact, while I'm at your door, I even pick up any older *spare* pairs that you might have left around. When eyewear is akin to medicine, there's nothing healthy to be gained using a *medication* passed its expiration date!"

Whew!!!.....what utter nonsense!

Barry

You are my hero, man. :)

[rdcoach5]

Opticians train the Doctors

My first contact lens training was with the local lab that my father used in his ophthalmology practice. Wolcon Lab in Michigan if any old -timers are on Board.Stan Ray was the co-owner, but out of courtesy to my father, he spent 2 days teaching me the basics of contact lenses.Stan had close contact with Harold Henry, the Optician Head at the University of Michigan. The Opticians taught contact lens fitting to the Ophthalmology students. I spent 2 days here mostly watching but again learning the basics including polishing and modifying rigid lenses.My point is that Opticians train the Ophthalmologists how to fit contact lenses and they always have. All of the innovations in contact lenses, well most of them are by opticians like Joe Soper and other OPTICIANS. We need someone with national recognition and speaking qualities like Mike Disanto to organize a national Union or Guild.. Mike, what do you think? I volunteer to help but this requires someone with your ability and stature.
Bob Taylor

[Uncle Fester]

The law according to this web site- note original thread is old.


"Check your prescription's expiration date


Do not try to purchase replacement eyeglasses or contact lenses online (or elsewhere) if your prescription has expired. It's illegal for anyone to sell you eyeglasses or contact lenses without a valid prescription.

Check your eyeglasses and/or contact lens prescription right now. If it's near or past the expiration date(s), find an eye doctor near you and schedule an eye exam."

https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/prescription-expiration-date/

[SergeTrigger]

So, I see the article you link says "it is illegal for anyone to sell eyeglasses without a valid RX" but doesn't mention or link to any specific federal or state law stating such. Is there a federal law that defines a "valid" rx for eyeglasses or is it left entirely up to state regulations?

I read the FTC "eyeglass rule" but all it seemed to talk about was making sure your Eye Dr gives you a copy of your RX and next to nothing about what you can use to fill an RX with.

[Uncle Fester]

Here's shades of gray in Massachusetts- But don't get me started on how this works with on line prescription eyeglasses:

Section 73C: Dispensing optician; definition

Section 73C. A dispensing optician as referred to in sections seventy-three D to seventy-three L, inclusive, is a person who prepares and dispenses lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses and appliances thereto to the intended wearer thereof on written prescriptions from a duly registered physician or optometrist, and, in accordance with such prescriptions, interprets, measures, adapts, fits and adjusts such lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses or appliances thereto to the human face for the aid or correction of visual or ocular anomalies of the human eyes. The services, lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses and appliances shall be dispensed, furnished or supplied to the intended wearer or user thereof only upon prescription issued by such physician or optometrist and only after the dispensing optician has verified that any such lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses and appliances thereto conform to such prescription; but duplications, replacements, reproductions or repetitions may be done at retail without prescription, in which event any such act shall be construed as that of a dispensing optician as if performed on the basis of the original written prescription.

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter112/Section73C

My doc's office policy is to not allow me to read and duplicate any eyewear without a valid written rx.

I never understood why some think it's safer for someone who has broken glasses to rush a new pair from that rx as well as a remedy of a full refund being offered if dissatisfied.

[NAICITPO]

My doc's office policy is to not allow me to read and duplicate any eyewear without a valid written rx.

I think this makes sense for an optometry practice. You want to encourage annual eye exams not just for revenue and the visual acuity that Barry so aptly jokes about, but for eye health. Yes, eyeglasses will never expire like medication. I believe in free choice. An individual can choose to wear an outdated Rx with more than likely worse visual acuity and a shop can choose to have a policy that does not allow for an outdated Rx to be used for glasses they fabricate. I understand why an optician owned shop like Barry has with no OD attached wouldn't see eye to eye with the reasons I stated above and that is fine. We all do what we think is best.

I never understood why some think it's safer for someone who has broken glasses to rush a new pair from that rx as well as a remedy of a full refund being offered if dissatisfied.

You would offer a full refund if they don't work out? We would offer to remake the lenses using the 1 time lab remake but never refund.

[Loki]

In the UK you need an up to date rx. You can not duplicate from existing lenses. In some very rare cases you can dispense to an out of date rx paper copy, but only if there is absolutely no alternative, no way to get them a new sight test, e.g. the patient is hospital-bound and the specs got lost. You have to document it heavily and justify as px best interest. It is a situation that comes up maybe once every other year.

[NAICITPO]

In the UK you need an up to date rx. You can not duplicate from existing lenses. In some very rare cases you can dispense to an out of date rx paper copy, but only if there is absolutely no alternative, no way to get them a new sight test, e.g. the patient is hospital-bound and the specs got lost. You have to document it heavily and justify as px best interest. It is a situation that comes up maybe once every other year.

That's pretty interesting. What kind of regulatory body watches over this kind of thing in the UK?

[HarryChiling]

GOC, General Optical Council they regulate in the UK.

[NAICITPO]

So they routinely audit practices for compliance--sounds like an insurance audit on steroids. We do live in the wild west here in the states...

[DanLiv]

My doc's office policy is to not allow me to read and duplicate any eyewear without a valid written rx.

A safe and pragmatic approach... if one is merely a stickler for the sacrosanct status of the holy Rx, or unconfident in one's opticians. With a capable optician like you Fester, your doc should leave that judgment in your hands.

I never understood why some think it's safer for someone who has broken glasses to rush a new pair from that rx as well as a remedy of a full refund being offered if dissatisfied.

Answer: they schedule an exam now, buy a complete quality new pair now, and buy an inexpensive backup pair now. I will neutralize their old lenses and make them the inexpensive backup pair in that power ASAP to wear during this emergency, until they have the exam and the new pair with proper updated Rx is made.

Emergencies like this are a result of peoples' own failure to plan. If one needs glasses to function, one needs backup glasses. I will not simply replace old glasses with an inexpensive, rushed, and outdated pair, only to enable a repeat of the improper situation that got them into this emergency in the first place. If they comply with the best practice of getting an updated exam, getting current Rx glasses, and having a functional backup pair, then I will do everything I am able to help them out. If they are not willing to comply, I am not willing to provide less than optimal care.

(And no gaming the system; the neutralization, ASAP backup, new Rx pair, and exam is a package price deal. No money back on returns, exchanges, or exam cancellation.)

[Loki]

So they routinely audit practices for compliance--sounds like an insurance audit on steroids. We do live in the wild west here in the states...

Oh it's for everything - fraud, malpractice, harassment, you name it, the GOC stomps down on it - you should read the fitness to practise hearing transcripts, they're publicly available.

https://optical.org/en/raising-concerns/hearings/past-hearings/

[NAICITPO]

I can just picture it...




The rules of bureaucracy usually drive me insane, I am much happier doing my thing with little to no governance here in the states.