Release immediately
Give the prescription right after the refractive eye exam, before offering to sell glasses, whether or not the patient asks.
FTC, 2024Eyeglasses and Optical · Practice Business
Running a Profitable Optical Compliance, menu, mix and add-ons.
A strong optical starts with doing the basics right: releasing prescriptions the way the FTC requires, presenting a clear lens menu, building a board that sells, and offering the second pairs and accessories patients actually use.
Sept 24, 2024Updated FTC Eyeglass Rule took effect
3 yrsKeep signed prescription confirmations
15%RescueLink participation credit on eligible OTC orders
1Clear lens menu, three tiers
Compliance first
The FTC Eyeglass Rule in practice
The FTC updated the Eyeglass Rule in 2024. Prescribers who also sell eyewear have specific duties at the end of every refractive exam.
Get a signed confirmation
Prescribers with a financial interest in selling eyewear must ask the patient to sign a confirmation of receipt and keep it for at least three years.
FTC, 2024Digital copies need consent
A digital copy can replace paper only with the patient’s verifiable affirmative consent; otherwise provide paper.
FTC, 2024Insurance counts as payment
Proof of insurance coverage counts as payment when deciding when the prescription must be released.
FTC, 2024Building the optical side of the practice
Once compliance is handled, a few decisions shape how the optical performs.
- A three-tier lens menu
- A frame board built around your patients
- Second pairs and accessories at checkout
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Lens menu
Standardize on one primary progressive family and present good, better and best tiers with coatings and photochromics bundled in.
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Frame board
Know which groups your reps represent; VSP Vision now owns both Marchon and Marcolin, and many labels trace back to a few groups.
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Second pairs
Prescription sunwear, workspace lenses and safety eyewear are natural second pairs that start from a real patient need.
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Accessories and OTC
Lens cleaners, anti-fog and fit accessories sell at checkout; eligible OTC eye care can route through RescueLink.
Team and process
People and process that keep it running
A well-run optical depends on trained opticians, clean handoffs from the exam lane and consistent follow-up.
Certified staff
Opticians can pursue national certification through the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE).
Clean handoff
Hand the prescription to the patient first, then walk them to the optical with the doctor’s lens recommendation noted.
Verify every job
Check finished glasses against the order and against your lab’s standards before dispensing, and log remakes by cause.
Reference
FTC Eyeglass Rule at a glance
| Effective date | September 24, 2024 |
|---|---|
| When to release | Immediately after the refractive eye exam, before any offer to sell eyewear |
| Confirmation | Request a signed confirmation of receipt (prescribers with a financial interest in eyewear sales) |
| Recordkeeping | Keep confirmations for at least three years |
| Digital copies | Only with verifiable affirmative consent; otherwise paper |
| Terminology | Rule now refers to a “refractive eye examination” |
RescueLink for eligible OTC products
- Send patients a personalized product list by text or email; they order in one tap.
- Eligible over-the-counter orders on VisionRescue.com through RescueLink earn the practice a 15% participation credit.
- Contact lenses and prescription products are excluded.
- Lens care, dry eye and eye health products are natural fits for optical patients.
Simple services that open conversations
The AAO notes it is unclear whether sunglass UV protection fades over time and that an optical shop can test it. A quick UV check of a patient’s current sunglasses is an easy way to start a sunwear conversation.
Common questions about running an optical
Does the signed confirmation apply to every prescriber?
The FTC says it applies to optometrists and ophthalmologists who have a financial interest in selling prescription eyewear.
How long do we keep signed confirmations?
At least three years under the updated Eyeglass Rule.
Can we email the prescription instead?
Yes, with the patient’s verifiable affirmative consent to a digital copy. If they decline, provide paper.
What earns the 15% participation credit?
Eligible over-the-counter orders placed on VisionRescue.com through RescueLink. Contact lenses and prescription products are excluded.
Where do vision plans fit?
Plan rules shape frame and lens allowances. See the insurance and billing guides for each major plan.
References
- Federal Trade Commission. FTC announces final Eyeglass Rule, June 2024. FTC
- Federal Register. Ophthalmic Practice Rules (Eyeglass Rule), July 26, 2024. govinfo
- American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners. ABO-NCLE
- VSP Vision. VSP Vision completes Marcolin acquisition, December 2025. PDF
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Sunglasses. AAO
Compliance, clarity and a second pair
Release prescriptions the right way, present a clear menu, and offer the add-ons patients use.
This page summarizes public regulatory guidance for orientation only and is not legal advice. Review the full FTC Eyeglass Rule and your state requirements with counsel. RescueLink terms apply; contact lenses and prescription products are excluded from the participation credit.