Legislators Petition FTC About Online Contact Lens Sellers

    
From left, Sen. David Perdue (R-Georgia) and keyperson Jeffrey Sonsino, OD

Dozens of lawmakers issued a joint letter (member login required) to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about alleged violations of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) by some Internet-based sellers of contact lenses. The 37 members of the US House of Representatives issued the letter just weeks after US Senator David Perdue, R-Georgia, took similar action (member login required), calling for a federal crackdown on these sellers. COA submitted comments on the same issue earlier.

“Tactics such as deceptively asserting the right to act as the patient’s agent and failing to effectively communicate the need for appropriate physician oversight when using contact lenses poses a threat to public health and safety,” states the Dec. 8 letter, written by Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. The other House members who signed the eye care patient protection letter represent districts in 18 states.

In the letter, they recommended a comprehensive review of the Internet sales industry’s practices. Lawmakers urged  FTC officials to make full use of the public health and enforcement expertise of other federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  US Food and Drug Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.