(WASHINGTON) – Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (Alliance for Patient Safety) today released the following statement following the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) workshop entitled, “The Contact Lens Rule and the Evolving Contact Lens Marketplace.”

“Doctors, contact lens manufacturers and eye care professionals from across the country today sent a clear message to the FTC: It’s time to follow the lead of other government agencies, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, to carefully consider patient safety and the integrity of the patient’s prescription when contemplating new government regulations,” said Deanna Alexander, O.D., Chair of the Alliance for Patient Safety. “As it currently stands, the FTC’s proposed rule will only increase burdens on small businesses and doctors, which will ultimately strain patient access, and allow for undermining the integrity of the prescription. Simply put, it’s a solution in search of a problem.”

(ALEXANDRIA, VA) – Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (Alliance for Patient Safety) supporters from across all 50 U.S. states are preparing to descend on Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) workshop titled, “The Contact Lens Rule and the Evolving Contact Lens Marketplace.”

Eye diseases, vision loss, and eye disorders create an estimated $139 billion economic burden in the U.S.¹ and millions of Americans suffer from untreated or undiagnosed vision impairments.² Members of the Alliance for Patient Safety are increasingly concerned that eye health and vision care are not priorities in the national health care discussion.

“The current verification of contact lens prescriptions includes issues like robocalls, excessive-quantity sales and lens substitutions, which create a system that treats the purchase of contact lenses as a mere economic transaction, without sufficient regard for patient safety,” said Deanna Alexander, O.D., Chair of the Alliance for Patient Safety. “The Alliance for Patient Safety believes the FTC should recognize the need for a contact lens verification process that is dedicated to protecting the well-being of patients and
ensure that contact lenses are used safely and appropriately.”

The following Alliance for Patient Safety members and advocates will speak on panels at the FTC’s workshop:

• Dr. Carol Lakkis, BScOptom, Ph.D. – Participant on Panel II: Contact Lens Health and Safety Issues. Dr. Lakkis is Clinical Research Fellow and Head of Applied Clinical Science for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
• Dr. David A. Cockrell, O.D. – Participant on Panel IV: Examining the Verification Process and Panel V: Prescription Release and Consumer Choice. Dr. Cockrell is Diplomate American Board of Optometry, Past President, American Optometric Association (AOA).
• Mr. Shaun Schooley – Participant on Panel IV: Examining the Verification Process. Mr. Schooley is the Vice President of Global Marketing Technology, CooperVision.
• Dr. Zachary McCarty, O.D. – Participant on Panel V: Prescription Release and Consumer Choice. Dr. McCarty is the Chair of the Quality Improvement and Registry Committee for the AOA.
• Mr. Peter A. Menziuso – Participant on Panel VI: Looking Ahead: Potential Market Disruptions and Their Impact on Competition, Consumer Protection, and the Contact Lens Rule. Mr. Menziuso is President, North America, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

In addition to panelists, doctors of optometry from across all 50 states will attend the workshop and submit formal comments advocating for policy that increases patient safety and ensures access to highquality vision health care.

Members of the press interested in learning more about the Alliance for Patient Safety or talking with Alliance advocates or panelists can visit www.patientsafetytoday.com.

(ALEXANDRIA, VA) – Eye diseases, vision loss, and eye disorders create an estimated $139 billion economic burden in the U.S.¹ and millions of Americans suffer from untreated or undiagnosed vision impairments.² Yet eye health and vision care are not priorities in the national health agenda. The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety, launched today, will work to fill the gap, advocating for solutions to advance patient eye health, vision care, and safety and to elevate the doctor-patient relationship – the essential foundation of health care decision making.

Advancing policy and collaboration between leading health care advocates, innovators, and treatment specialists is essential to push patient eye health care and vision protection forward. The Alliance for Patient Safety will build on important eye health and technological advancements, and work with patients, policy makers, and regulators to deliver transparent and factual information regarding eye health products, procedures, technology, and safety.

“The Alliance for Patient Safety exists to advance patient eye health and provide patients with the latest credible information to improve and safeguard eye health,” said Deanna Alexander, O.D., Chair of the Alliance for Patient Safety. “We will set out to ensure patient eye health and safety are at the center of the nation’s health care agenda and to advance patient health through education, empowerment, and the preservation of the doctor-patient relationship as the absolute foundation of sound health care decision making.”

The Alliance for Patient Safety is a policy advancement and information collaboration between leading eye health advocates, innovators, and trusted voices from the eye health community, all united by a commitment to ensuring quality care and improved patient outcomes. Through advocacy and education initiatives, the Alliance for Patient Safety:

• Supports laws, regulations, increased enforcement, and other public policy solutions designed to safeguard public health
• Heightens awareness to patients, legislators, and regulators of the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and existing and potential threats to patients’ eye health and safety

The American Optometric Association (AOA) and Johnson & Johnson Vision joined the Alliance as Leadership and Charter members with CooperVision, Inc. joining as an Associate and Charter member.

To become a local advocate or to get involved in protecting patient safety, visit www.patientsafetytoday.com.

Congressional Staff Learn the Dangers of Counterfeit Contact Lenses at Policy Briefing

Posted by Health Care Alliance For Patient Safety · October 30, 2019 12:51 PM · 1 reaction

Senate Subcommittee Urges FTC to Modernize the Contact Lens Verification Process

Posted by Health Care Alliance For Patient Safety · September 20, 2019 11:09 AM · 1 reaction

APS Applauds Introduction of the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act

Posted by Health Care Alliance For Patient Safety · July 26, 2019 9:05 AM