Rhode Island § 23-97-3 - Consumer Protection in Eye Care Act

§ 23-97-3. Assessment mechanisms.

An assessment mechanism to conduct an eye assessment or to generate a prescription for contact lenses or visual aid glasses in Rhode Island shall:

(1) Provide synchronous or asynchronous interaction between the patient and the provider;

(2) Collect the patient’s medical history, previous prescription for corrective eyewear, and length of time since the patient’s most recent in-person comprehensive eye health examination;

(3) Disclose to patients and require acceptance in advance as a term of use that:

(i) This assessment is not a replacement of an in-person comprehensive eye health examination;

(ii) This assessment cannot be used to generate an initial prescription for contact lenses or a follow-up or first renewal of the initial prescription;

(iii) This assessment may only be used if the patient has had an in-person comprehensive eye health examination within the previous twenty-four (24) months if the patient is conducting an eye assessment or receiving a prescription for visual aid glasses; and

(iv) The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises contact lens wearers to visit an eye doctor one time a year or more often if needed.