Automatic Prescription Release Means Consumers Don't Have to
Buy Contact Lenses From Eye Doctors
DRAPER, Utah, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Fairness to Contact
Lens Consumers Act has been signed into law by President Bush and takes effect
on February 4th, 2004. The new law gives 36 million Americans the right to
choose where they buy contact lenses.
Jonathan Coon, Chief Executive Officer of 1-800 CONTACTS, said, "It's now
official. There is a national standard for prescription release and
verification that gives contact lens wearers rights that eyeglass wearers have
enjoyed for 25 years."
Specifically, the Act provides these benefits for contact lens wearers:
1. Automatic Prescription Release. Directs eye care providers to give
patients their prescription as soon as they've been fitted, whether
or not the patient asks for it.
2. Prescription Verification. Creates a workable and fair prescription
verification system for sellers and prescribers and addresses the
practices of some online sellers who do little or no verification.
The Act requires all sellers to verify prescriptions and give eye
care providers an opportunity to respond. If an eye care provider
fails to respond within 8 business hours, the prescription is
presumed verified.
3. Minimum expiration period. Prescriptions will be valid for a
minimum of one year or the minimum period required by state law --
whichever is greater. The expiration period begins only after the
eye care provider gives the prescription to the consumer.
In accordance with the Act, the Federal Trade Commission will now begin a
study of the industry and submit a report to Congress within 12 months. The
study will address, among other things, doctor exclusive brands and the impact
they have on competition.
"This new law simplifies our business model and simplifies the purchasing
process for contact lens wearers," said Jonathan Coon. "There is now one
national standard that puts the contact lens wearer first and makes their
rights clear to eye doctors, retailers, and online sellers."
1-800 CONTACTS (Nasdaq: CTAC) offers consumers an attractive alternative
for obtaining replacement contact lenses in terms of convenience, price and
speed of delivery. Through its easy-to-remember, toll-free telephone number,
"1-800 CONTACTS" (1-800-266-8228), and its Internet web site,
http://www.contacts.com , the Company sells all of the popular brands of contact
lenses. 1-800 CONTACTS offers products at competitive prices, while
delivering a high level of customer service.
This news release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's
future business prospects as a result of the passage of the Act. These
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by such
forward-looking statements.
SOURCE 1-800 CONTACTS, INC.
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Related links:
http://www.contacts.com
CONTACT:
Kevin McCallum, Corporate Spokesperson,
+1-801-924-9826, media@contacts.com , or Brian W. Bethers, Chief
Financial Officer, +1-801-924-9800, investor@contacts.com , both
of 1-800 CONTACTS, INC.
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