Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
Before a licensed optometrist provides a spectacle or contact
lens prescription to a patient, the eye examination record will include
best-corrected visual acuity with ophthalmic lenses or contact lenses in the
lens powers determined by refraction. Each contact lens or ophthalmic spectacle
lens/eyeglass prescription by a licensed optometrist must meet the requirements
as listed below:
(1) A contact lens
prescription will contain the following information:
a. Date of issuance;
b. Name and date of birth of patient for whom
the contact lens or lenses are prescribed;
c. Name, address, and signature of the
practitioner;
d. All parameters
required to duplicate properly the original contact lens;
e. A specific date of expiration, not to
exceed 18 months, the quantity of lenses allowed and the number of refills
allowed; and
f. At the option of
the prescribing practitioner, the prescription may contain fitting and material
guidelines and specific instructions for use by the patient.
(2) Release of contact lens
prescription.
a. After the contact lenses
have been adequately adapted and the patient released from initial followup
care by the prescribing practitioner, the prescribing practitioner will provide
a copy of the contact lens prescription, at no cost, for the duplication of the
original contact lens. A licensed optometrist may refuse to provide a copy of
the contact lens prescription if the patient has not paid the fees associated
with the examination from which the prescription was generated including
applicable contact lens fitting fees.
b. A practitioner choosing to issue an oral
prescription will furnish the same information required for the written
prescription except for the written signature and address of the practitioner.
An oral prescription may be released by an O.D. to any dispensing person who is
a licensed professional with the O.D., M.D., D.O., or R.Ph. degree or a person
under direct supervision of those licensed under Iowa Code chapter 148, 154 or
155A.
c. The issuing of an oral
prescription will be followed by a written copy to be kept by the dispenser of
the contact lenses until the date of expiration.
(3) An ophthalmic spectacle lens prescription
will contain the following information:
a.
Date of issuance;
b. Name and date
of birth of the patient for whom the ophthalmic lens or lenses are
prescribed;
c. Name, address, and
signature of the practitioner issuing the prescription;
d. All parameters necessary to duplicate
properly the ophthalmic lens prescription; and
e. A specific date of expiration not to
exceed two years.
A dispenser of ophthalmic materials, in spectacle or eyeglass
form, must keep a valid copy of the prescription on file for two years.
(4) Release of
ophthalmic lens prescription.
a. The
ophthalmic lens prescription will be furnished upon request at no additional
charge to the patient. A licensed optometrist may refuse to provide a copy of
the ophthalmic lens prescription if the patient has not paid the fees
associated with the examination from which the prescription was
generated.
b. The prescription, at
the option of the prescriber, may contain adapting and material guidelines and
may also contain specific instructions for use by the patient.
c. Spectacle lens prescriptions will be in
written format, according to Iowa Code section
147.109(1).
