Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part LI - Optometrists
Chapter 5 - Practicing Optometry
Section LI-505 - Prescriptions for Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses

A. To constitute a valid spectacle prescription, every spectacle prescription for use in correcting errors of refraction and restoring, as near as possible, normal human vision shall contain in a legible form the name, address, telephone number and license number of the provider, the name of the patient, the prescription date, refractive power (including spherical power, cylindrical power, axis, prism, and multifocal addition power, as applicable), and may contain information specifying the physical design (i.e. base curve, material type, and other pertinent measurements such as pupillary distance). Every spectacle prescription shall contain an expiration date and the signature of the provider issuing the prescription. The expiration date may not exceed 18 months, unless the provider documents a valid medical reason in the chart for doing so.

B. Contact lenses may not be sold or dispensed without a signed, unexpired prescription. Every contact lens prescription shall contain, in a legible form, the name, address, telephone number and license number of the provider, the name of the patient, the prescription date, brand or material, curvature and lens diameter (if more than one base curve and diameter is available), refractive power (including spherical power, cylindrical power, axis, and multifocal addition power, as applicable), the number of lenses/boxes to be dispensed,. An optometrist, when issuing a prescription for contact lenses, shall also include the number of refills allowed and the expiration date of the prescription. The expiration date may not exceed 12 months, unless the provider documents a valid medical reason in the chart for doing so.

C. An optometrist, when filling a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, shall be required to keep the original prescription, copy, or electronic facsimile of the original prescription. An optometrist may not refuse to release to a patient a copy of the patient's prescription if requested by the patient; provided, however, an optometrist shall not be required to release a prescription that has expired.

D. A spectacle prescription shall not be construed to be or substituted for a contact lens prescription nor shall a contact lens prescription be construed to be or substituted for a spectacle prescription.

E. No owner, employer, or agent of any business establishment that buys, sells, offers to sell, dispenses, or gives away prescription or non-prescription contact lenses, or prescription spectacle lenses may fill a contact lens or spectacle prescription after the expiration date, or if the information specified in Subsections A and B of this Section is not included on the prescription.