Site Feedback

Title 16

Displaying title 16, up to date as of 10/08/2026. Title 16 was last amended 10/01/2026.
New Finding Aids are now available on eCFR.gov. The Parallel Table of Authorities, Subject Index, and Agency-prepared Indexes are now online! Learn more
eCFR Content

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) is a continuously updated online version of the CFR. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.

Learn more about the eCFR, its status, and the editorial process.

§ 456.1 Definitions.

(a) A patient is any person who has had a refractive eye examination.

(b) A refractive eye examination is the process of determining the refractive condition of a person's eyes or the presence of any visual anomaly by the use of objective or subjective tests.

(c) Ophthalmic goods are eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses, and contact lenses.

(d) Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic goods subsequent to a refractive eye examination.

(e) An ophthalmologist is any Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy who performs refractive eye examinations.

(f) An optometrist is any Doctor of Optometry.

(g) A prescription is the written specifications for lenses for eyeglasses which are derived from a refractive eye examination, including all of the information specified by State law, if any, necessary to obtain lenses for eyeglasses.

[57 FR 18822, May 1, 1992, as amended at 89 FR 60774, July 26, 2024]