Is it within the law?

[Jana Lewis]

Had a patient come in for a pair of OTC readers. I showed him our stock. He declined and asked me to make him up a pair.

He wanted a designer reader of his chosing. I told him that I couldn't technically "fill" it without a doctors RX.

He asked me why since he could buy a ready made one off the shelf. He has a point.

What to do? Can I make the reader for him?

[rbaker]

Since the manufacture and sale of reading glasses falls outside of the present "O" laws in all states why not just become a manufacturer and seller of OTC reading glasses. This is a good example of a "loophole" in the law - and loopholes are there to be taken advantage of. We used to glaze up our own "dogs" with +2.50 spheres and sell them OTC. How the heck do you think we got rid of all those 58MM glass spheres.

So crank away. You end up with a happy customer and a few more rupees in your pot.

[HarryChiling]

(6) "Practice of optometry" means using objective or subjective means, with or without the use of topical ocular pharmaceutical agents, to:
(A) determine or measure the powers of vision of the human eye as provided by Section 351.355;
(B) examine or diagnose visual defects, abnormal conditions, or diseases of the human eye or adnexa; or
(C) prescribe or fit lenses or prisms to correct or remedy a defect or abnormal condition of vision as provided by Section 351.356.

http://www.tob.state.tx.us/TOBCode.htm#SEC002

So no you can't make it for him specifically, but if you were to fabricate the pair for stock and he was to purchase it later it would technically fall within the rules, go figure.

[HarryChiling]

Since the manufacture and sale of reading glasses falls outside of the present "O" laws in all states why not just become a manufacturer and seller of OTC reading glasses. This is a good example of a "loophole" in the law - and loopholes are there to be taken advantage of. We used to glaze up our own "dogs" with +2.50 spheres and sell them OTC. How the heck do you think we got rid of all those 58MM glass spheres.

So crank away. You end up with a happy customer and a few more rupees in your pot.

Didn't see your post, that's about the gist of it.:cheers:

[rbaker]

Another "loophole" is the expression "at retail" which is found in most state statutes pertaining to opticianry. If you are a "wholesaler" you can fabricate and deliver eyewear with no regard to Rx date or anything beyond an order form. The occupational eyewear business has operated under this loophole for years and will be the first to come forward with mucho wampum to preserve the status quo.

[Johns]

That's it, I'm going into the reading glass business, but with a twist.

I'll put an autorefractor in my waiting room, with self service instructions (bring a friend to help).

Let the "shoppers" refract themselves.

Then, they can come into my "OTC Shop", armed w/ the info on the autorefractor slip (they did it not me).

They can then select from a wide selection of glasses from +.50 up to +6.00. But wait! There's more!

Some people need to read beyond arms length, so we'll back off on the plus a bit. Some my need to read 4 ft. past their arms, some might want to read (road signs) 40 ft. past their arms. For those lucky people, they can pick from myh selection of "Ready 4 The Road Readers". From -.25 to -10.00. Have an astigmatism? Whoa, that's a real Rx, we can't do that. But the easy readers, no problem.

It'll be just like online, only we'll shake your hand, and you won't need to get an exam. (Who gets an exam for "readers" anyway?)

We can't discriminate against people that have the need to read at longer distances than others, can we?


Is $15 too much? I don't want to charge too much. After all they're just OTC readers.

[CME4SPECS]

I'd make it free with purchase to make it real attractive!

[Ginster]

That's it, I'm going into the reading glass business, but with a twist.

I'll put an autorefractor in my waiting room, with self service instructions (bring a friend to help).

Let the "shoppers" refract themselves.

Then, they can come into my "OTC Shop", armed w/ the info on the autorefractor slip (they did it not me).

They can then select from a wide selection of glasses from +.50 up to +6.00. But wait! There's more!

Some people need to read beyond arms length, so we'll back off on the plus a bit. Some my need to read 4 ft. past their arms, some might want to read (road signs) 40 ft. past their arms. For those lucky people, they can pick from myh selection of "Ready 4 The Road Readers". From -.25 to -10.00. Have an astigmatism? Whoa, that's a real Rx, we can't do that. But the easy readers, no problem.

It'll be just like online, only we'll shake your hand, and you won't need to get an exam. (Who gets an exam for "readers" anyway?)

We can't discriminate against people that have the need to read at longer distances than others, can we?


Is $15 too much? I don't want to charge too much. After all they're just OTC readers.

Ha,Ha,Ha,hahah,:D:D You are very funny, and probably a little scary,
my kind of person,

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

[Ory]

Didn't some company or other market customizable readers, where you bought empty frames and a drawer full of pre-edged lenses of varying power? As I recall, you just picked the closest sphere to the patient's refraction(eg. +2.00 OD and +2.75 OS) and hence could somewhat balance their OTC readers.

[DragonLensmanWV]

Didn't some company or other market customizable readers, where you bought empty frames and a drawer full of pre-edged lenses of varying power? As I recall, you just picked the closest sphere to the patient's refraction(eg. +2.00 OD and +2.75 OS) and hence could somewhat balance their OTC readers.

Hilco used to have modular ones where you could snap in a different power in each eye, but I got my new catalog and don't see them.

[HarryChiling]

Didn't some company or other market customizable readers, where you bought empty frames and a drawer full of pre-edged lenses of varying power? As I recall, you just picked the closest sphere to the patient's refraction(eg. +2.00 OD and +2.75 OS) and hence could somewhat balance their OTC readers.

Vera Bradley OTC's coem with different power lenses.

[Andrew Weiss]

Didn't some company or other market customizable readers, where you bought empty frames and a drawer full of pre-edged lenses of varying power? As I recall, you just picked the closest sphere to the patient's refraction(eg. +2.00 OD and +2.75 OS) and hence could somewhat balance their OTC readers.

2Clear Custom Readers; we carry them. 3 styles of frames, 3 colors for each -- small rectangle, large rectangle, oval. Spherical pre-edged lenses come in a big box, powers from plano up to +4.00. I'll post information about our source in the professional forum.

[Specs]

Florida law allows duplication. Have him buy a pair, then duplicate the Rx, then allow the return of the OTC's.