I'm CTO of easee, an online eye exam and have been involved in some US market research. It's a rapidly developing field and a lot of regulations are a gray area or different per state. E.g. it might be mandatory to have a valid prescription, but it might not be mandatory for the seller to verify this before selling glasses online.

I've just learned some new things about the eyeglass rule from a sibling in this thread.

I'm trying to visualize or recall any complications that could arise or have passed from shipping or receiving 'unsanctioned' glasses. I can't even imagine which regulating body would give orders to which enforcement organization that could make anything happen. To live by these rules is enabling my own abuse.

Just curious, since you mention that you're soon to be in the business of eye exams, do you think at some point your business is going to have to maintain this status quo in order to 'play ball' legislatively during your growth phase? If yes, how do you feel about that? If no, can you explain why you'd be exempt? Are these laws something that articulates with your business model or is this only in adjacent businesses like providing lenses?