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Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) A self-insuring employer shall approve payment to replace eyeglasses or contact lenses when an industrial injury or an industrial accident which not only causes an injury, but also results in the damage or loss of the claimant’s eyeglasses or contact lenses.
(1) In the event of injury prior to January 1, 1979, the eyeglasses must be in place on the claimant’s face and the contact lenses shall be in place in the claimant’s eye(s) at the time of injury.
(2) In the event of injury on or after January 1, 1979, the requirements of paragraph (A)(1) of this rule do not apply.
(B) Contact lenses or glasses are reimbursed when loss of vision is the direct result of an allowed injury or occupational disease.
(C) Refractions will be approved in situations described in paragraph (B) of this rule.
(D) Replacement of glasses with contact lenses is approved when medical evidence indicates a direct need due to an allowed injury or occupational disease.
(E) Glasses or contact lenses will be approved for treatment purposes, when necessary, as a direct result of the allowed injury or occupational disease. Any subsequent adjustment, maintenance supplies, or change in a claimant’s glasses or contact lenses, if required for treatment of the allowed injury or occupational disease, will also be approved when supported by evidence of a direct causal relationship.
When eyeglasses and/or contact lenses were damaged or broken in an industrial accident in which an injury was sustained by the claimant and have been replaced, no further replacement will be approved due to subsequent breakage or for any other reason except as provided in this paragraph of this rule.
HISTORY: Eff 1-1-78; 12-21-79; 2-14-05
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: RC 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.30, 4121.31, 4123.05, 4123.66
Rule Amplifies: RC 4123.66
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 10/26/2004 and 03/01/2009