---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 7604"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "7604"
heading: "Expiration of contact lens prescriptions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/7604"
units:
  - "Chapter 102 — Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers"
---

# §7604. Expiration of contact lens prescriptions

- (a) **In general—** A [contact lens prescription](/usc/15/7610.md?p=3) shall expire—
  - (1) on the date specified by the law of the [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) 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](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) law specifies no date or a date that is less than one year after the issue date of the prescription; or
  - (3) notwithstanding paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2), on the date specified by the [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2), if that date is based on the medical judgment of the [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) with respect to the ocular health of the patient.
- (b) **Special rules for prescriptions of less than 1 year—** If a prescription expires in less than 1 year, the reasons for the judgment referred to in [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3) shall be documented in the patient’s medical record. In no circumstance shall the prescription expiration date be less than the period of time recommended by the [prescriber](/usc/15/7610.md?p=2) for a reexamination of the patient that is medically necessary.
- (c) **Definition—** As used in this section, the term “issue date” means the date on which the patient receives a copy of the prescription.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–164, § 5, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2025.)

## 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.