Do you know your consumer rights regarding your eyewear prescription? By federal law, your doctor must give you your prescription without any additional charge after your eye exam.

This is true whether you ask for it or not. You are not required to purchase your eyewear from your optician. For more information, visit ftc.gov/eyeglasses.

Q: How long is my prescription valid?

State laws determine how long glasses or contact lens prescriptions are good. Generally speaking, your glasses prescription is valid for at least a year, and up to two years in some states.

How To Read Your Eyeglass Prescription

Q: What is pupillary distance?

In order for glasses to correct your vision properly, you need to know your pupillary distance in addition to your prescription.

Pupillary distance is the amount of space between your pupils, measured in millimeters. This distance ensures that you will be looking through the optical center of your lenses.

You can request this measurement from your optician at the time of your exam.

Q: What information should be on my prescription?

Aside from the vision correction prescription, you should also see your name, the date of your exam, when the prescription was issued and expires, and your doctor’s name, address, and phone number.

Q: What if my eye doctor won’t provide my prescription to me?

If your doctor tries to charge for or make you sign a waiver to get your prescription, you can report violations at ftc.gov/complaint.