Know Your Rights: CA Laws and Regulations Related to the Practice of Optometry

This past weekend I went to an optometry clinic (Dr. de la Peña Clinic). I decided not to go to LensCrafters because I didn't want to spend all my savings. Plus, I wanted to support a local clinic, whose target audience is people like me--raza. 

Now, this is not the first time I have been to an optometrist. I am blind as a bat, and have been visiting optometrists for over 12 years now.  There are certain procedures I am use to: forms and waivers, eye drops, pressure scans, colorblindness tests. I use to get the air blown into my eye, and now it's just a machine that gets super-mega-close to your eye- to exam your pressure. Right eye, left eye. Right eye, left eye.

One thing I noticed that was odd, was that at the clinic, I was never told I was going to get my eyes dilated. Apparently it is part of their general eye exam. I also, was never asked permission to have my eyes dilated. The nurse or doctor must always ask for your permission to dilate your eyes. You have the option to say yes/no and you get a form saying that on this day you got your eyes dilated or you did not.

Know your Rights

After a general eye exam, the doctor must provide you with your prescription (glasses). If it is contact lenses, then your prescription is given after your fitting is complete. And as a consumer, you have every right to shop in other optician parties.  

In Chapter 5.4, of the California Laws and Regulations related to the Practice of Optometry, issued by the CA State Board of Optometry in section 2541.2, subdivision (b): 

"Upon completion of the eye examination or, if applicable, the contact lens fitting process for a patient as described in subdivision (f), a prescriber or a registered dispensing optician shall provide the patient with a copy of the patient's contact lens prescription signed by the prescriber; unless prescription meets the standards set forth in subdivision (c).

Subdivision (c) entails that a prescriber can retain the prescription if the patient wears special lenses that need to be produced specially for that individual versus mass production, and if the contact lenses have some sort of gas.  

Subdivision (f) describes the process and the completion of a contact lens fitting. Basically, a contact lens starts after the general eye exam and ends when the patient finds the lenses that best fit.

Subdivision (g) is about payment (basically, pay your fees and you get your prescription along with your receipt).

Also important to note, subdivision (h):

"A prescriber shall not condition the availability of an eye examination, a contact lens fitting, or the release of a contact lens prescription on a requirement that the patient agree to purchase contact lenses from that prescriber.   

[Section 2541.2, found on page 71]

 Now you know...

You can skim through the Laws and Regulations, but it is important that you know your rights and become an informed consumer. You have every right to ask questions, and to know you have rights. After all, it is your eyes. Also important, you have every right to file an official complaint for malpractice to the Board of Optometry.  

I feel very dooped, after going to De La Peña. After I finished my exam, I asked him for a copy of my prescription for which he told me, No. Because you're gonna go to CostCo and buy some lenses. What kind of crap is that?! But now that I am informed, and know my rights...I am ready for my follow up so I can kick some ass!!

2013: Salad Please!

So far, 2013 seems like an important year. I turned 24. I find myself not in school and in a job I dislike. But it's okay, because I am willing to change and sometimes opportunities spring up by themselves--and sometimes you gotta search for them.

Anywho, enough about that tangent...I'm 24! That seems old. Older. And The year just started-seventeen days ago to be exact. I don't think I stick to any New Year Resolutions. I know cause "working out" is always on that phantom resolution list, and I never workout. This time around being healthy and eating more greens is my so-called resolution. 

I've been making some pretty bomb salads at work. And here is my favorite thus far!! 

Spring mix, strawberry balsamic salad

{sweet and nutty flavors}

Online Arguments

Why do people enjoy and take the time to argue with someone online?! Some people are easily antagonized because they feel like they are in the right. I will admit, I like poking them, and teasing them for the sake of discussing. But it gets rude so quickly. Why do some people feel so safe to be complete jerks behind a monitor and not have that same discussion vocally? 

Communication transforms. 

New daydreams

{A picture I took of the clouds above the Getty Museum}

Movie Night (in a Violent State)

Why do we like to watch violent movies? I remember reading an article way back in undergrad (freshman year-english class-awesome professor!!) that regular folks, meaning those without any psychopathic tendencies, like to watch violent movies to relieve their tensions. Something about an innate tendency for violence in all of us, however social constructs of normativity disable this feeling of acting violent because normal people would know that is not right, and our moral functions would stop us from acting. Therefore, this urge for violence is transcended and relieved by watching violent movies. 

That makes sense. When I watch violent, scary, or gory movies...I may be cheering for some ass-kicking. But as I am watching I get fed up, grossed out, or bored. These movies aren't real. Nobody would act in that fashion in reality...

This Sunday, I went to the movies with my brothers. We watched "Jack Reacher". I did not like the movie. Everybody and their mothers were getting framed. The action scenes weren't exciting to watch, they were very typical: extreme car chase, fighting in the rain, and the "finally-you-caught-the-bastard-and-you're-about-to-win-and-you're-going-to-kill-him-but-you'd-rather-finish-him-off-with-a-fist-fight" type of fight. 

Merry Eco-Xmas

I like doing this. Eco-friendly ideas to use instead of a Christmas tree (plastic or real). Check out more recycled goodies and ideas at Recyclart .

cups and dishes in Belgium 

Know Your Plastic