Contact lens manufacturers have begun implementing “Unilateral Price Policies” that require retailers to sell certain contact lenses at or above a set price or they won’t be sold the product

Hearing examined whether these policies decrease competition and lead to higher prices for consumers by eliminating the ability of retailers to discount

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), chairman of the Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, held a hearing on pricing and competition in the contact lens industry. Contact lens manufacturers have begun implementing “Unilateral Price Policies” that require retailers to sell certain contact lenses at or above a set price or they won’t be sold the product. The hearing examined whether these policies decrease competition and lead to higher prices for consumers by eliminating the ability of retailers to discount.

“More than 35 million Americans rely on contact lenses as an essential part of their daily lives, and these consumers deserve fair prices,” Klobuchar said. “With three of the top four contact lens manufacturers requiring retailers to sell lenses at a set minimum price, we need to be clear-eyed about how these policies are impacting consumers and competition, and that’s what today’s hearing was all about.”  

Witnesses at the hearing included R. Joe Zeidner, General Counsel, 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc.; Dr. Millicent Knight, Head of Professional Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, North America; Dr. David Cockrell, President, American Optometric Association; and George Slover, Senior Policy Counsel, Consumers Union. 

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