Prescription Policy
PRESCRIPTION POLICY
AM Alder Miller · aldermiller.com
Effective: January 1, 2027 · Last Updated: July 2026
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Your Washington consumer health data privacy rights: aldermiller.com/pages/consumer-health-data-privacy |
Section 1. What This Policy Covers
This Prescription Policy applies to all prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses sold by AM Alder Miller (AM AlderMiller, LLC, “we,” “us,” or “our”) through aldermiller.com. It explains what prescription we require, how to submit it, who reviews it, how it is protected, and what your rights are. By placing a prescription eyewear order with AM Alder Miller, you agree to this Policy.
This Policy does not apply to non-prescription (plano) eyewear, fashion frames without lenses, or accessory orders, which do not require a prescription.
Section 2. Prescription Requirements — What We Accept
2A. Valid Prescription Required
Washington State law (RCW 18.34 and WAC 246-852) and federal law (FTC Eyeglass Rule, 16 CFR Part 456) require that AM Alder Miller fabricate prescription eyewear only from a current, valid prescription written by a licensed prescriber. We cannot accept self-prescribed values, internet-estimated prescriptions, or prescriptions from unlicensed sources.
2B. Who May Write Your Prescription
● A licensed optometrist (OD) — Washington State (RCW 18.53) or any US state or territory
● A licensed ophthalmologist (MD or DO) — licensed in any US state or territory
● A licensed physician authorized to perform refractive examinations under applicable state law
AM Alder Miller does not perform eye examinations and cannot prescribe corrective lenses. If you do not have a current prescription, please contact a licensed eye care provider in your area.
2C. Prescription Validity — Expiration
Your prescription must be current and unexpired at the time you submit your order. If your prescription has expired, we will place your order on hold and contact you. We cannot fabricate lenses from an expired prescription.
2D. Required Prescription Information
Sphere, cylinder, axis, add power (progressives), pupillary distance, expiration date, prescribing doctor's name, and prism (if applicable). If any required field is missing, our reviewing optometrist will place your order on hold and contact you within one business day.
2E. Pupillary Distance (PD) — Your Right to This Measurement
If your prescriber did not include your PD on your prescription, you have the right to ask them for it at no charge. You may also measure your own PD or use a free online tool. Email hello@aldermiller.com before ordering if you'd like guidance.
Section 3. How to Submit Your Prescription
You will submit your prescription after you place and pay for your order, through a secure prescription intake portal separate from Shopify checkout. Your Order Confirmation email contains a secure “Submit Your Prescription” link. Please submit within 48 hours of ordering; contact hello@aldermiller.com if you need more time. You may enter values manually, upload a photo/scan of your prescription, or both — we recommend both for verification accuracy.
Section 4. Prescription Verification — Our Reviewing Optometrist
AM Alder Miller employs a licensed Washington State optometrist who reviews every prescription submission before fabrication begins, as required by WAC 246-851-370. The optometrist checks completeness, currency, value accuracy against any uploaded document, clinical reasonableness, and fabrication compatibility. Reviews are typically completed within one business day, up to two during peak periods.
Section 5. Three Possible Outcomes After Review
Outcome A — Approved
Your order enters production. Standard production time is 7–14 business days, plus shipping.
Outcome B — Hold (More Information Needed)
We'll email you explaining what's needed. Respond within 3 business days; if we don't hear from you within 7 business days, your order is cancelled and fully refunded.
Outcome C — Rejected
You'll receive a full refund and an explanation. We're happy to help you find a compatible lens combination — email hello@aldermiller.com.
Section 6. Fabrication Standards — ANSI Z80.1-2025
All prescription lenses must conform to ANSI Z80.1-2025 tolerances for lens power, cylinder, axis, prism, and optical centration. Lenses fabricated outside these tolerances due to a laboratory error are remade at no charge (see Section 9).
Section 7. Prescription Data Privacy
Your prescription is submitted exclusively through a HIPAA-eligible intake platform, never through aldermiller.com or Shopify directly. Data is encrypted (AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.2+ in transit), access is restricted to our Privacy Officer and reviewing optometrist, and all vendors handling prescription data operate under signed Business Associate Agreements or Data Processing Agreements. You have rights under the Washington My Health My Data Act (RCW 19.373) to access, correct, and delete your data — email privacy@aldermiller.com. We retain prescription records for a minimum of six years; our lab partner deletes prescription data within 30 days of order completion.
Section 8. Prescription Returns — Your Rights and Our Policy
8A. 30-Day Return Window
AM Alder Miller accepts prescription eyewear returns within 30 days of delivery. Email hello@aldermiller.com with your order number and reason for return; we'll provide a prepaid return label within one business day.
8B. The 30% Restocking Fee
A non-refundable 30% restocking fee applies to all customer-initiated prescription returns, regardless of lens type (excluding fabrication error returns — see Section 9). This reflects the actual cost of lens cutting, coating, and inspection that cannot be recovered once lenses are fabricated to your prescription.
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What You Paid |
Restocking Fee (30%) |
Your Refund |
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Single vision glasses, from $95.00 |
$28.50 |
From $66.50 |
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Progressive glasses, from $325.00 |
$97.50 |
From $227.50 |
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Premium or add-on lens options |
30% of total |
Your total minus 30% |
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Non-prescription (plano) eyewear |
$0.00 |
Full refund |
Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 5–7 business days of receiving your returned item. FSA/HSA card refunds may take up to 10 business days.
8C. Return Conditions
Returned frames must be in original, unworn condition with no scratches, bends, or alterations, with original packaging and accessories included. AM Alder Miller reserves the right to reduce or deny a refund for items returned damaged or worn.
Section 9. Fabrication Error Guarantee
If our optical laboratory fabricates your lenses outside ANSI Z80.1-2025 tolerances for the values our reviewing optometrist approved, we remake your lenses at no charge — no restocking fee, free return and replacement shipping.
To claim a fabrication error: email hello@aldermiller.com with subject “Fabrication Error — Order #[your order number].” We may ask you to visit a local optical shop or eye care provider for a free lens verification. If confirmed outside tolerance, we remake immediately at no charge.
This guarantee does not cover: (1) prescription entry errors where submitted values differ from your actual prescription; (2) prescriptions that changed after your order was placed; (3) normal adaptation difficulties with a new prescription; or (4) frame fit issues, addressed under our frame exchange policy.
Section 10. Segment Height Adjustment (Progressive Lenses)
Progressive lens orders require a segment height measurement, provided one of three ways as described in our Frame Size and Segment Height Guide: (1) a number you provide from a previous provider's record, (2) a number you measure yourself at home, or (3) Aldermiller's formula-based estimate (48% of your chosen frame's B-measurement), used only when neither of the first two options is available to you. How a fit issue is handled depends on which method was used.
10A. If You Provided Your Own Segment Height (Options 1 or 2)
If your progressive lenses were fabricated to a segment height you provided — from a previous provider's record or your own at-home measurement — and the fit doesn't feel right after the normal 1–4 week adaptation period, this is handled under our standard Return Policy (Section 8). The segment height in this case reflects information you supplied, not a laboratory or fabrication error.
10B. If Aldermiller's Estimate Was Used (Option 3)
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If your progressive lenses used Aldermiller's formula-based segment height estimate, and your lenses don't feel right after the normal 1–4 week adaptation period, we will re-edge your lenses to an adjusted segment height once, at no charge, provided you contact us within 60 days of delivery. |
To request this adjustment: email hello@aldermiller.com with subject “Segment Height Adjustment — Order #[your order number].” Let us know how the lenses feel (e.g., a narrow or hard-to-find near-vision zone), and we'll advise whether a re-edge is likely to help.
This is a one-time accommodation specific to orders where our estimate was used, and does not apply to segment height values you provided yourself (see 10A). It is separate from, and does not affect, the Fabrication Error Guarantee in Section 9, which covers lenses fabricated outside ANSI Z80.1-2025 tolerance for the values our reviewing optometrist approved.
Section 11. Progressive Lens Adaptation
Progressive lenses require an adaptation period that is normal and expected. Most wearers adapt within 1–2 weeks; some require up to 4 weeks. Common experiences include mild peripheral distortion, a brief “swimming” sensation when moving your head, and the need to point your nose at your target rather than looking sideways.
Adaptation difficulty within the first 4 weeks is not a fabrication error and is not covered by the Fabrication Error Guarantee. If you're still experiencing significant difficulty after 4 weeks, contact hello@aldermiller.com — our reviewing optometrist will examine your prescription, lens parameters, and prescription history to determine whether an adjustment may help.
Section 12. Prescription Verification Contact / Prescriber Requests
Under the FTC Eyeglass Rule and Washington State consumer vision care law (RCW 18.195), AM Alder Miller has the right to contact your prescribing eye care provider to verify your prescription when our reviewing optometrist has a specific, documented reason to do so — and only after notifying you. Eye care providers with questions about a patient's order may contact hello@aldermiller.com.
Section 13. Contact Us
● Email (fastest): hello@aldermiller.com — we respond within one business day, often sooner
● Prescription privacy: privacy@aldermiller.com — for all data privacy requests and MHMD rights
● Website: aldermiller.com
● Mail: AM AlderMiller, LLC — 4620 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98408
Business hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time. Closed on Washington State and federal holidays.
Consumer Health Data Privacy Notice: aldermiller.com/pages/consumer-health-data-privacy