(a) (1) The expiration date of a contact lens prescription shall not be less than one year and shall not exceed two years from the date of issuance, unless the patient’s history or current circumstances establish a reasonable probability of changes in the patient’s vision of sufficient magnitude to necessitate reexamination earlier than one year, or the presence or probability of visual abnormalities related to ocular or systemic disease indicate the need for reexamination of the patient earlier than one year. If the expiration date of a prescription is less than one year, the health-related reasons for the limitation shall be documented in the patient’s medical record. In no circumstances shall the prescription expiration date be less than the period of time recommended by the prescriber for reexamination of the patient.

(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, the date of issuance is the date the patient receives a copy of the prescription.

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(3) Establishing an expiration date that is not consistent with this section shall be regarded as unprofessional conduct by the board that issued the prescriber’s license to practice.

(b) Upon completion of the eye examination or, if applicable, the contact lens fitting process for a patient as described in subdivision (f), a prescriber or a registered dispensing optician shall provide the patient with a copy of the patient’s contact lens prescription signed by the prescriber, unless the prescription meets the standards set forth in subdivision (c).

(c) A prescriber shall retain professional discretion regarding the release of the contact lens prescription for patients who wear the following types of contact lenses:

(1) Rigid gas permeables.

(2) Bitoric gas permeables.

(3) Bifocal gas permeables.

(4) Keratoconus lenses.

(5) Custom designed lenses that are manufactured for an individual patient and are not mass produced.

(d) If a patient places an order with a contact lens seller other than a physician and surgeon, an optometrist, or a registered dispensing optician, the prescriber or his or her authorized agent shall, upon request of the contact lens seller and in the absence of the actual prescription, attempt to promptly confirm the information contained in the prescription through direct communication with the contact lens seller.

(e) The contact lens prescription shall include sufficient information for the complete and accurate filling of a prescription, including, but not limited to, the power, the material or manufacturer or both, the base curve or appropriate designation, the diameter when appropriate, and an appropriate expiration date. When a provider prescribes a private label contact lens for a patient, the prescription shall include the name of the manufacturer, the trade name of the private label brand, and, if applicable, the trade name of the equivalent national brand.

(f) The contact lens fitting process begins after the initial comprehensive eye examination, and includes an examination to determine the lens specifications, an initial evaluation of the fit of the lens on the patient’s eye, except in the case of a renewal prescription of an established patient, and followup examinations that are medically necessary, and ends when the prescriber or registered dispensing optician determines that an appropriate fit has been achieved, or in the case of a prescription renewal for an established patient, the prescriber determines that there is no change in the prescription.

(g) The payment of professional fees for the eye exam, fitting, and evaluation may be required prior to the release of the prescription, but only if the prescriber would have required immediate payment from the patient had the examination revealed that no ophthalmic devices were required. A prescriber or registered dispensing optician shall not charge the patient any fee as a condition to releasing the prescription to the patient. A prescriber may charge an additional fee for verifying ophthalmic devices dispensed by another seller if the additional fee is imposed at the time the verification is performed.

(h) A prescriber shall not condition the availability of an eye examination, a contact lens fitting, or the release of a contact lens prescription on a requirement that the patient agree to purchase contact lenses from that prescriber. A registered dispensing optician shall not condition the availability of a contact lens fitting on a requirement that the patient agrees to purchase contact lenses from that registered dispensing optician.

(i) A prescriber or a registered dispensing optician shall not place on the contact lens prescription, deliver to the patient, or require a patient to sign a form or notice waiving or disclaiming the liability or responsibility of the prescriber or registered dispensing optician for the accuracy of the ophthalmic devices dispensed by another seller. This prohibition against waivers and disclaimers shall not impose liability on a prescriber or registered dispensing optician for the ophthalmic devices dispensed by another seller pursuant to the prescriber’s prescription.

(j) The willful failure or refusal of a prescriber to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute grounds for professional discipline, including, but not limited to, the imposition of a fine or the suspension or revocation of the prescriber’s license. The Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and the California State Board of Optometry shall adopt regulations, to implement this subdivision, including, but not limited to, standards for processing complaints each receives regarding this subdivision.

(k) For the purposes of this section, “prescriber” means a physician and surgeon or an optometrist.

(l) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand the scope of practice of a registered dispensing optician as defined in Sections 2542, 2543, and Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 2550).

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 630, Sec. 18. (AB 1534) Effective January 1, 2022.)