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The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

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Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#71

Post by xmprt »

JCM9 wrote: post #55

There are a number of healthcare areas in the US that have been protected by regulation, but it’s increasingly unclear if this is good for patients, consumers, or public health at large. The increasing sentiment seems to be probably not. Vision care is another area I’d expect to see more changes and disruption coming down the pipeline. Vision care is very important and advanced cases require special skills, but it’s…

One pretty big (and relatively unknown) law is that your doctor needs to give you your vision prescription so you can buy glasses elsewhere (usually for much cheaper). I think a lot of them get around this by letting you look for glasses while waiting and not telling you that this law exists.

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#72

Post by bastardoperator »

kristofferR wrote: post #7

Contact lenses next? It's amazingly stupid that I, as a tourist, who knows exactly what types of contacts I need, may need to get a US prescription for contacts.

How are optometrists supposed to make money if they don't sell you services and glasses from their showroom?

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#73

Post by hellbannedguy »

TylerE wrote: post #13
cf100clunk wrote: post #2

"People with mild or moderate hearing loss" should be free to purchase these sort of generic hearing aids in much the same way that buying non-prescription reading glasses is common. If problems persist, it is time to consult a professional.

An improperly tuned hearing aid can make your hearing worse though...actively causing further damage.

Someone threw out a pair of hearing aids on my street.

I was interested in the technology so I experimented with them. They were a Costco brand, and retailed for 550.00

These were not loud enough to hurt a mouses ear at full volume. They were so low power I didn't even think they would work at first.

America has a lot of people who need hearing aids, and can't afford them currently with all the bs.

And I don't know what we will do with all the overeducated Audiogists, and Opticians. They can jump on the wagon of out sourced American workers?

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#74

Post by gmadsen »

tshaddox wrote: post #26
kristofferR wrote: post #7

Contact lenses next? It's amazingly stupid that I, as a tourist, who knows exactly what types of contacts I need, may need to get a US prescription for contacts.

Is this really a problem in practice? I've always had a valid prescription when I buy glasses, but at the glasses store I just flash them the prescription on my phone for a few seconds. It's a PDF on official looking letterhead, but I don't think there's any verification. I suppose it's probably not the best idea to fake an eyeglass prescription, but it certainly seems like it would be very easy to do.

yes, considering many people can't afford to see a doctor

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#75

Post by bckygldstn »

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #56
jedimastert wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that true? I've ordered all of my glasses online for the past few years, and they've never asked for anything other than a form to fill out.

I don’t buy online because I want to see how they look on my face first. Many shops won’t sell you glasses unless your prescription is under 1 year old. This allows them to charge you for an exam when you don’t necessarily need it.

Sites like Warby Parker will send you a bunch of frames to try on for free so you can see how they look.

And I find sites like Zenni are so cheap that it's worth taking the risk: an ugly pair can go in the car /gym bag / work desk for if I lose a contact lens.

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#76

Post by skybrian »

JCM9 wrote: post #55

There are a number of healthcare areas in the US that have been protected by regulation, but it’s increasingly unclear if this is good for patients, consumers, or public health at large. The increasing sentiment seems to be probably not. Vision care is another area I’d expect to see more changes and disruption coming down the pipeline. Vision care is very important and advanced cases require special skills, but it’s…

Getting new glasses is different from screening for eye diseases, though it's typically done at the same time. I doubt a GP would have the special equipment they use for screening? It's pretty specialized.

Apparently the need for this gets more important as you get older:

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-...

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#77

Post by DaveExeter »

bastardoperator wrote: post #72
kristofferR wrote: post #7

Contact lenses next? It's amazingly stupid that I, as a tourist, who knows exactly what types of contacts I need, may need to get a US prescription for contacts.

How are optometrists supposed to make money if they don't sell you services and glasses from their showroom?

They charge for the eye exam.

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#78

Post by max-ibel »

kristofferR wrote: post #7

Contact lenses next? It's amazingly stupid that I, as a tourist, who knows exactly what types of contacts I need, may need to get a US prescription for contacts.

You need to know your prescription, but not present it if you order on Zenni for instance. Parker Warby is probably the same.

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#79

Post by dsizzle »

JCM9 wrote: post #55

There are a number of healthcare areas in the US that have been protected by regulation, but it’s increasingly unclear if this is good for patients, consumers, or public health at large. The increasing sentiment seems to be probably not. Vision care is another area I’d expect to see more changes and disruption coming down the pipeline. Vision care is very important and advanced cases require special skills, but it’s…

Not sure why vision checks require a doctor at all. In the end, they're just relying on your responses anyway: "What's better: A or B"? In fact, I'd go further and say it doesn't even require another person.

I, for one, am glad to see this bill.

Re: The FDA wants you to be able to buy a hearing aid without a prescription

#80

Post by fshbbdssbbgdd »

bckygldstn wrote: post #38
tshaddox wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this really a problem in practice? I've always had a valid prescription when I buy glasses, but at the glasses store I just flash them the prescription on my phone for a few seconds. It's a PDF on official looking letterhead, but I don't think there's any verification. I suppose it's probably not the best idea to fake an eyeglass prescription, but it certainly seems like it would be very easy to do.

* I had an optometrist only give me a prescription for glasses, even though I indicated I wear contact lenses on my intake form and was wearing them at the appointment! When I realised a few days later after being denied trying to buy contacts with a glasses prescription, the optometrist said I would have to come in again and pay for a full consultation (out of pocket as my insurance only covers one per year). * I've…

I’ve successfully bought contacts online from multiple vendors by putting down a disconnected number as my optometrist.
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