AC Lens Submits Comments and Recommendations to FTC Regarding Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act
Dr. Peter Clarkson, President of Columbus, OH based AC Lens, submitted formal comments and recommendations to the FTC today in response to the FTC’s request for comments related to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, which the FTC announced on January 30, 2004.
Columbus, OH (PRWEB)April 2, 2004 -- Dr. Peter Clarkson, President of
Columbus, OH based AC Lens, submitted formal comments and recommendations to the
FTC today in response to the FTC’s request for comments related to the Fairness
to Contact Lens Consumers Act, which the FTC announced on January 30, 2004.
Dr. Clarkson’s comments highlighted several areas where the FTC could
alter the proposed rule to make it easier for consumers to purchase contact
lenses from alternative sources such as Internet and mail order contact lens
firms. Dr. Clarkson recommended that the FTC should change the definition of
“business hours” to include Saturdays since most ophthalmic practices are open
on Saturdays, and this would allow AC Lens to offer customers faster
prescription verification and order delivery.
The FTC also solicited
comments on “Private Label” lenses, which some eye doctors prescribe in order to
lock patients into purchasing those lenses from the eye doctor or a specific
retail outlet because the manufacturer of these “Private Label” lenses does not
make the lenses available to alternative channels, such as Internet and mail
order. This practice generally leads to higher prices for consumers because
there is no price competition on these products. Fortunately, companies who
manufacture these lenses often have a generic equivalent that can be purchased
at a discount through mail order companies and the Fairness to Contact Lens
Consumers Act allows substitution of generics for the “Private Label” lenses
that the eye doctor prescribed.
Dr. Clarkson also pointed out a
disturbing development in the ophthalmic industry where “Prescriber Only” brands
of lenses were being promoted to eye doctors as a way of “control the purchase
price and keep 100% of the profits.” Dr. Clarkson commented, “These lenses are
clearly anti-consumer – there is very little product innovation, the main reason
a doctor would prescribe such a lens is to try and force the patient to buy the
lenses from the eye doctor and not from discount channels.”
Dr. Clarkson
summarized the comments he submitted as helping the FTC to tackle the challenge
of fostering competition in the contact lens industry while ensuring that the
health of contact lens wearers is not compromised. “AC Lens is committed to
working within the new rules and hopes to partner with other members of the eye
care industry to better serve patients and customers.”
The full text of
Dr. Clarkson’s comments as well as the full text of the FTC’s proposed Contact
Lens Rule (Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, 15 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.16
C.F.R. Part 315: Contact Lens Rule16 C.F.R. Part 456: Ophthalmic Practice Rules)
will be available on the FTC’s website (http://www.ftc.gov/). For more information, or copies of Dr.
Clarkson’s comments, please contact: Philip Dietrich at
614-921-9857.
About AC Lens
Arlington Contact Lens Service, Inc. (AC
Lens), sells brand name contact lenses directly to consumers via its website www.aclens.com and toll-free
telephone 1-888-248-LENS. Operating from a custom-designed call-center and
warehouse facility in Hilliard, Ohio, the company has been selling contact
lenses online since 1996 and has established a reputation as an on-line leader
in service, convenience, and discount prices for consumers.
CONTACT
INFORMATION:
Philip Dietrich
AC Lens
614-921-9857
Fax:
614-921-9866
http://www.aclens.com/
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/4/prweb115693.htm