---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 7603"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "7603"
heading: "Prescriber verification"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/7603"
units:
  - "Chapter 102 — Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers"
---

# §7603. Prescriber verification

- (a) **Prescription requirement—** A seller may sell contact lenses only in accordance with a [contact lens prescription](/usc/15/7610.md?p=3) for the patient that is—
  - (1) presented to the seller by the patient or [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) directly or by facsimile; or
  - (2) verified by direct communication.
- (b) **Record requirement—** A seller shall maintain a record of all direct communications referred to in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Information—** When seeking verification of a [contact lens prescription](/usc/15/7610.md?p=3), a seller shall provide the [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) with the following information:
  - (1) Patient’s full name and address.
  - (2) Contact lens power, manufacturer, base curve or appropriate designation, and diameter when appropriate.
  - (3) Quantity of lenses ordered.
  - (4) Date of patient request.
  - (5) Date and time of verification request.
  - (6) Name of contact [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) at seller’s company, including facsimile and telephone number.
- (d) **Verification events—** A prescription is verified under this chapter only if one of the following occurs:
  - (1) The [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) confirms the prescription is accurate by direct communication with the seller.
  - (2) The [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) informs the seller that the prescription is inaccurate and provides the accurate prescription.
  - (3) The [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) fails to communicate with the seller within 8 business hours, or a similar time as defined by the Federal Trade Commission, after receiving from the seller the information described in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (e) **Invalid prescription—** If a [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) informs a seller before the deadline under [subsection (d)(3)](#d-3) that the [contact lens prescription](/usc/15/7610.md?p=3) is inaccurate, expired, or otherwise invalid, the seller shall not fill the prescription. The [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) shall specify the basis for the inaccuracy or invalidity of the prescription. If the prescription communicated by the seller to the [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) is inaccurate, the [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) shall correct it.
- (f) **No alteration—** A seller may not alter a [contact lens prescription](/usc/15/7610.md?p=3). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the same contact lens is manufactured by the same company and sold under multiple labels to individual providers, the seller may fill the prescription with a contact lens manufactured by that company under another label.
- (g) **Direct communication—** As used in this section, the term “direct communication” includes communication by telephone, facsimile, or electronic mail.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–164, § 4, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 60 days after Dec. 6, 2003, see section 12 of Pub. L. 108–164, set out as a note under section 7601 of this title.