Vision Prescription Rules By State

Your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription may be valid longer than you think! Most prescriptions are good for a minimum of 1 year, some are good for 2 years.
Some states leave the maximum length open-ended. The prescribing doctor has the option to put an expiration date on your prescription. Even if your state allows
open-ended prescriptions, the doctor could put a time limit on it within state laws. Find out how to save on your contact lenses here with or without a current prescription.

The FTC has some additional information about consumer rights related to vision prescriptions. Know your rights and how to use your prescription, if someone violates the laws around vision prescriptions, you can turn them in to the FTC.


Below is the most recent list of state laws related to vision prescription length.

StateMin. LengthMax. LengthLink
Alaska1 yearNot givenLink
Alabama1 yearNot given
Arkansas1 year1 yearLink
Arizona1 year1 yearLink
California1 year2 yearsLink
Colorado1 year1 yearLink
Connecticut1 yearNot given
D.C.1 year1 yearLink
Delaware1 year1 yearLink
Florida2 years2 yearsLink
Georgia1 year1 yearLink
Hawaii1 yearNot given
Iowa1 year18 monthsLink
Idaho1 year1 yearLink
Illinois1 year1 yearLink
Indiana1 year1 yearLink
Kansas1 yearNot givenLink
Kentucky1 year1 yearLink
Louisiana1 year18 monthsLink
Massachusetts1 yearNot givenLink
Maryland1 year2 yearsLink
Maine1 year2 yearsLink
Michigan1 yearNot givenLink
Minnesota2 years2 yearsLink
Missouri1 yearNot given
Mississippi1 year2 yearsLink
Montana1 yearNot given
North Carolina1 yearNot givenLink
North Dakota1 year1 yearLink
Nebraska1 year1 yearLink
New Hampshire1 year1 yearLink
New Jersey1 year2 yearsLink
New Mexico2 yearsNot givenLink
Nevada1 yearNot givenLink
New York1 yearNot given
Ohio1 year1 yearLink
Oklahoma1 year1 yearLink
Oregon1 yearNot givenLink
Pennsylvania1 year1 yearLink
Rhode Island1 yearNot givenLink
South Carolina1 year1 yearLink
South Dakota1 yearNot given
Tennessee1 yearNot given
Texas1 yearNot given
Utah2 years2 yearsLink
Virginia1 yearNot givenLink
Vermont1 year1 yearLink
Washington2 yearsNot givenLink
Wisconsin1 yearNot givenLink
West Virginia1 yearNot givenLink
Wyoming1 yearNot givenLink