---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 C.F.R. § 315.6"
title: "16"
number: "315.6"
heading: "Expiration of contact lens prescriptions."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/16/315.6"
---

# §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)](#a-1) and [(a)(2)](#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)](#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.
  - (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.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 7601-7610.

### Source

Source: 69 FR 40508, July 2, 2004, unless otherwise noted.