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AOA, contact lens coalition defend patient safety on Capitol Hill
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The American Optometric Association spoke of the “deceptive, abusive and misleading sales tactics” by some online contact lens retailers at an Oct. 25 briefing on Capitol Hill.
About 80 Capitol Hill staffers from various House and Senate offices attended the standing room-only briefing, which was sponsored by the Coalition for Patient Vision Care Safety, according to information provided by the AOA.
The organization spoke to legislators about unsafe practices such as dispensing based on expired or non-existent prescriptions, over-filling prescriptions and providing patients with lenses other than those prescribed by their eye doctor.
The AOA explained how these deceptive practices place patients at an unfair advantage and disrupt the doctor-patient relationship, deceive the public and potentially harm patient vision and eye health, according to the statement.
The coalition consists of manufacturers, eye care practitioners, clinical organizations and trade associations that seek to ensure that the patient-eye doctor relationship is preserved and protected under federal law regulations.
One of the largest online contact lens retailers, 1-800 CONTACTS, was recently sued by the Federal Trade Commission for stifling competition and escalating prices.
In response, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Boozman, OD, (R-Ark.) and Reps. Pete Olson (R-Texas) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) introduced S. 2777/H.R. 6157, which calls for bolstering patient safety requirements, increasing accountability for Internet contact lens sales and reinforcing the distinction that contact lenses are medical devices and should be treated that way, according to the AOA.
“The House’s introduction of the Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act in September was a true milestone in the effort to support patients’ eye health, safety and access to lenses — and it wouldn’t have been possible without the ongoing leadership of the AOA, the Coalition for Patient Vision Care Safety, other vison care advocates and you,” Johnson & Johnson Vision Care JJVCI was “on the ground to support this opportunity to further build upon relationships and educate lawmakers,” the company said.
The event was moderated by Richard E. Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, of Alcon, and covered contact lenses, contact lens policy and how best to protect patient health while maintaining a competitive marketplace.
The panel also included Jeffrey Sonsino, OD, chair of the AOA’s contact lens and cornea section; Michelle L. Andrews, OD, CooperVision; and Carol L. Alexander, OD, JJVCI.