Weird experience with optometrist, please advise

[chngsr]

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Hey all,
I need some advice/opinion on my experience with an optometrist today. I am a resident in a different field so thought I would ask you guys.
So I went in for a routine eye exam and needed new glasses and contacts because my vision has slightly worsened since my last exam. The optometrist gave me the prescription for my glasses but then refused to give me a prescription for my contacts. Basically she gave me a pair of contacts from a particular brand and said i would have to follow up with her in 1-2 weeks to decide whether I want that brand and if her exam of my eyes would indicate it would be safe for me to use them. Only then would she give me a prescription for contacts for that brand. If I do not like those contacts, I would have to try another brand and follow up with her again.
Is this routine practice or am I missing something? I thought we were supposed to get our contact prescription and we can choose what brand we want to buy from. Also if I did get a contact prescription from her for the brand that I tried, can I use it to get the contacts from a different brand instead or are prescriptions written for a specific brand. Please help!

 

[vsarge0708]

Not only is this routine, this is standard of care. After your follow-up exam you will get a copy of your contact lens Rx. You cannot choose your own brand. Here is an example of one particular states contact lens prescribing law:


(a) Optometric prescriptions shall bear:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile telephone number and license number of the optometrist.

(2) The name of the patient.

(3) The date the prescription is issued by the licensed practitioner.

(4) The expiration date.

(b) Contact lens prescriptions shall specify the lens type, the specifications necessary for the ordering and fabrication of the lenses, number of refills and expiration date consistent with the type and modality of use of the contact lens being prescribed, but the expiration date may not be greater than 1 year. The prescription may include a statement of caution if the statement is supported by appropriate findings and documented in the patient’s medical record.

 

[OMD]

However, if you already wear contacts and all you wanted was an update of your prescription to the brand of contacts you currently wear, I would have no problems whatsoever updating it without seeing you back. While seeing you back gets one more copay out of a patient, it can irritate them into not coming back for years to come, thus costing money in the long run. Even if you wanted to try a new brand, sometimes I will write for it and tell the patient to return if they aren't satisfied but don't demand a return visit. The Rx does have to have the brand info because there are more measurements than just the power that involve how the contacts fir on your eye.

 

[PBEA]

However, if you already wear contacts and all you wanted was an update of your prescription to the brand of contacts you currently wear, I would have no problems whatsoever updating it without seeing you back. While seeing you back gets one more copay out of a patient, it can irritate them into not coming back for years to come, thus costing money in the long run. Even if you wanted to try a new brand, sometimes I will write for it and tell the patient to return if they aren't satisfied but don't demand a return visit. The Rx does have to have the brand info because there are more measurements than just the power that involve how the contacts fir on your eye.

many will include the follow-up as "global" to the original cl service, so there often is no additional co-pay. As for cl evals, new cl types all get checked at one week (as some will have tight fits after few hours of wear), existing lens w/o problems do not get checked unless they are having problems.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

Hey all,
I need some advice/opinion on my experience with an optometrist today. I am a resident in a different field so thought I would ask you guys.
So I went in for a routine eye exam and needed new glasses and contacts because my vision has slightly worsened since my last exam. The optometrist gave me the prescription for my glasses but then refused to give me a prescription for my contacts. Basically she gave me a pair of contacts from a particular brand and said i would have to follow up with her in 1-2 weeks to decide whether I want that brand and if her exam of my eyes would indicate it would be safe for me to use them. Only then would she give me a prescription for contacts for that brand. If I do not like those contacts, I would have to try another brand and follow up with her again.
Is this routine practice or am I missing something? I thought we were supposed to get our contact prescription and we can choose what brand we want to buy from. Also if I did get a contact prescription from her for the brand that I tried, can I use it to get the contacts from a different brand instead or are prescriptions written for a specific brand. Please help!

1) This is routine practice, especially if the prescription changed.

2) Contacts can not be substituted due to patient preference. That's the same as telling the pharmacist you want another medication you saw advertised on TV, even though your doctor prescribed something else.

If you want another contact lens then express that to your optometrist at the f/u visit.