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Kansas optometry board adopts amended rule, removing mandatory pupillary distance on prescriptions
Summary
The Kansas State Board of Optometry voted to adopt amendments to KAR 65-84 that remove pupillary distance as a mandatory item on prescriptions, citing consumer complaints and regulatory modernization; JCAR had previously raised restraint-of-trade concerns. The board adopted the rule by roll-call vote and will submit the certificate of adoption to the secretary of state.
The Kansas State Board of Optometry voted to adopt an amended regulation, KAR 65-84, that removes pupillary distance (PD) as a mandatory item on eyeglass prescriptions.
Board president Dawn Bircher said the change reflects modern practice and consumer concerns, arguing it will make obtaining eyewear more efficient. “This change will benefit the consumer in allowing a more efficient process for obtaining the correct measurement, and we believe it broadens consumer choice and will serve patient interest long term,” Bircher said during the public hearing.
Board staff reviewed the rulemaking record at the hearing, noting publication of the notice of hearing on May 7, 2026, and two reviews by the legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) — on Dec. 11, 2024, and June 23, 2026. JCAR had expressed concern about the continued use of the word “shall” in Section A and raised a “restraint of trade” question connected to removing PD as a mandatory requirement. The board responded in writing after its January 2025 meeting and addressed JCAR’s concerns during the June review.
The board explained that, as optometry and optical practices have evolved, many opticians are positioned to measure PD in real time, and removing a mandatory PD does not prohibit optometrists from including the measurement when warranted. The board said the change aims to reduce unnecessary return visits and improve consumer access without preventing practitioners who choose to include PD from doing so.
After discussion, a board member moved to adopt the amendment as presented. The board conducted a roll-call vote; the motion passed. Executive officer Kelly McTee will prepare a certificate of adoption documenting the roll-call vote and the board will submit the amended regulation and the economic-impact statement to the secretary of state for publication.
The board’s action formalizes how the state implements prescription content in light of evolving practice patterns and consumer feedback. The certificate of adoption will be part of the public record when the amendment is published.
