[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR315.6]

[Page 411-412]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
                   CHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
 
PART 315_CONTACT LENS RULE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 315.6  Expiration of contact lens prescriptions.

    (a) In general. A contact lens prescription shall expire:
    (1) On the date specified by the law of the State in which the 
prescription was written, if that date is one year or more after the 
issue date of the prescription;
    (2) Not less than one year after the issue date of the prescription 
if such State law specifies no date or specifies a date that is less 
than one year after the issue date of the prescription; or
    (3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, on 
the date specified by the prescriber, if that date is based on the 
medical judgment of the prescriber with respect to the ocular health of 
the patient.
    (b) Special rules for prescriptions of less than one year. (1) If a 
prescription expires in less than one year, the specific reasons for the 
medical judgment referred to in paragraph (a)(3) of this section shall 
be documented in the patient's medical record with sufficient detail to 
allow for review by a qualified professional in the field.
    (2) The documentation described in the paragraph above shall be 
maintained for a period of not less than three years, and it must be 
available for inspection by the Federal Trade Commission, its employees, 
and its representatives.

[[Page 412]]

    (3) No prescriber shall include an expiration date on a prescription 
that is less than the period of time that he or she recommends for a 
reexamination of the patient that is medically necessary.