Is It Legal for My Eye Doctor to Refuse to Fit Me for Contact Lenses?

Yes, your eye doctor has the legal right to refuse fitting you for contact lenses if they determine that you are not a suitable candidate. There are several reasons why this might happen, such as your risk assessment, current eye health, and your ability to care for the lenses.

Understanding Legal Grounds for Refusal

Your eye doctor can determine that you are not a good candidate for contact lenses due to various factors. These may include the overall health of your eyes, your immune system, and your ability to follow proper cleaning procedures.

Case Study: A Failed Contact Lens Fitting

I recently had a patient come in asking for contact lenses. The eye doctor provided a pair of trial contact lenses and asked the patient to put them into their eyes. Despite this, the doctor did not prescribe a final pair of contact lenses. The patient failed to take any proper precautions, such as washing their hands and using disinfectant solution before handling the lenses. This behavior is a high risk for infection and other complications, which may explain the doctor's decision not to prescribe contact lenses.

Am I Permanently Disqualified from Using Contacts?

If you find yourself in a similar situation, it's important to understand that you're not necessarily disqualified from using contact lenses forever. The key is to demonstrate a better understanding of the proper handling procedures during your next eye exam. When your eye doctor provides you with trial lenses, they will likely ask you to demonstrate how you can safely put them in and take them out.

To improve your chances of being prescribed contact lenses, follow these guidelines:

Proper Hand Hygiene

Wash Your Hands: Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your contact lenses. Squirt Eye Solution: Use disinfectant solution before handling the sterile lenses.

Safe Handling of Lenses

Show your eye doctor that you know how to handle the lenses properly:

Wash your hands. Squeeze some disinfectant solution onto your hands. Open the package carefully, using your thumb and index finger to remove the sterile lens. Place the lens onto your eye, using your index finger and thumb to position it. To remove the lens, wash your hands again, apply more disinfectant solution, and use your thumb and index finger to pinch the lens off the tip of your eyeball and drop it into a contact lens holder with solution.

Repeat the Process

Repeat the process with the other eye to show your eye doctor that you can handle the lenses safely.

If these are the reasons why you didn't receive a prescription for contact lenses, there is a higher chance of getting them if you demonstrate your ability to follow these guidelines in the future. Your eye health and safety are the top priorities, and your eye doctor is simply ensuring that they do not prescribe something that could be potentially harmful.

Remember, a good eye doctor is not making an unnecessary decision; they are prioritizing your health and safety. If you can prove that you can handle the lenses appropriately, you may be given a prescription for contact lenses in the future.