OANY News & Views

Attention Optical Alliance Member:
ADAPTING & FITTING NON-CORRECTIVE CONTACT LENSES BILL PASSES LEGISLATURE
Albany, N.Y.
June 2005

A-6394a/S-317a, sponsored by Assemblyman Canestrari and Senator Saland, passed the legislature in the closing hours of the legislative session this past Friday. This bill will soon be sent to the Governor’s Office for consideration.

Below is information from the bill memo. If you would like to see the full bill text, please visit the Assembly website at http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=a6394a and use the Quick Bill search tool located right under Speaker Silver’s message.

Summary of Specific Provisions: The bill amends the Education Law to require contact lenses used for cosmetic purposes to be dispensed only upon a valid prescription from a physician, optometrist, or ophthalmic dispenser.

Justification: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings regarding the serious risks of permanent eye injury presented by non-corrective, decorative lenses distributed without a prescription and without proper fitting by an eye care professional. In October 2002, the FDA issued an import alert instructing FDA and Customs officials to automatically detain all decorative contact lenses presented at U.S. ports of entry, and to seize decorative contact lenses currently on the market in violation of federal law.

The FDA has received reports of corneal ulcers associated with wearing decorative contact lenses in excess of recommended time periods. Corneal ulcers can progress rapidly, leading to internal ocular infection if left untreated. According to the FDA, uncontrolled infection can lead to corneal scarring and vision impairment. In extreme cases, this condition can result in blindness and eye loss. Other risks associated with the use of decorative, non-prescription contact lenses include conjunctivitis, corneal edema, and corneal abrasion. Unfortunately, decorative lenses have been found to be especially popular among teens. Despite seizure efforts and public awareness campaigns regarding the threat such lenses pose to the wearer’s health, the lenses continue to be found in flea markets and stores, as well as on the Internet.
This bill will reinforce the message by the FDA of the dangers of non-prescription cosmetic lenses by requiring them to be fitted by an appropriate eye care professional and only upon written prescription.

Carter, AOA Promote Free Eye Exams for Kids

Carter, AOA Promote Free Eye Exams for Kids

Each year, millions of children are faced with undiagnosed eye problems that can lead to permanent vision loss or difficulty in school. To address this serious problem, former President Jimmy Carter has joined forces with the American Optometric Association (AOA).

The InfantSEE program launched by the AOA provides free eye exams for infants in an effort to detect amblyopia (‘lazy eye’) and other vision problems early in life. InfantSEE doctors use lights and other handheld objects to make sure infants’ eyes are working together. They also check for nearsightedness and retinoblastoma (a cancer that can lead to loss of an eye if not treated early).

As honorary chair and national spokesperson, former President Jimmy Carter is urging parents to take action. “We have eleven grandchildren and two of them have been afflicted with amblyopia, or “lazy eye”. And we really didn’t know it until they got to the first grade and had problems seeing the blackboard,” said the former president. “It took us a lot of effort and time to correct it. But if they just had the opportunity to go to an optometrist the first year of life, they could have been corrected and they never would have suffered.”

Over 6,500 optometrists have signed up to participate in the InfantSEE program. Parents with infants aged 6 months to one year olds can schedule an appointment with an InfantSEE optometrist. For more information on the InfantSEE program, please visit www.infantsee.org.

Congress Passes Federal Employee Vision Benefits Bill

Congress Passes Federal Employee Vision Benefits Bill
Eight Million Eligible for Reduced Fee Eye Exams in 2006

Eight million Americans are one step closer to receiving an eye exam thanks to legislation passed by the US Congress last week. If signed into law, federal government workers, retirees, and their dependents would automatically qualify for enhanced vision benefits (eye exams and products) and, potentially, more government supplementation of costs in the near-term future.

“This new federal benefit could have a significant effect on vision care in the coming years,” noted Richard C. Elias, Chairman of the Vision Council of America. “I know of no other way we can impact so many people so quickly than with this type of legislation”.

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), currently offers very little coverage for vision care. Under the new law, employees would receive discounts for refractive services, preventative care and eyewear. It also requires Congress to evaluate whether the cost of vision care should be further reduced for employees in order to increase their use.

The most obvious effect of this legislation is short-term. On January 1, 2006, eight million participants in the FEHBP will have a greater incentive to access the vision care they need to prevent unnecessary vision loss. If national worker statistics citing that 7 out of 10 workers want vision benefits is an indicator, it is likely that the number of federal employees receiving an eye exam in 2006 will rise.

But there are long-term effects as well. The FEHBP insurance program frequently serves as a benchmark for businesses and insurance providers across the country. Many of the benefits that FEHBP has implemented in the past (such as flex-time and cafeteria-style offerings) have been widely adopted; there is no reason to believe that would change with vision care benefits.

“These types of changes don’t happen in a vacuum,” Elias said. “We’ve spent the last four years telling both the public and policymakers about the importance of regular eye exams through our Check Yearly program and our advocacy campaigns. These efforts have a ripple effect,” he continued, “and help create an environment in which these types of changes can occur.”

Elias was also quick to praise United States Senator Susan Collins (ME), Representative Tom Davis (VA-11), Representative Jo Ann Davis (VA-01) and Representative Tim Murphy (PA-18) for their commitment and leadership in securing the passage of this legislation.