Optometrist Medical Record Retention: State & Federal Guidelines

Retention periods for optometric records vary by jurisdiction. Below are general guidelines for major regions:

United States

• HIPAA: Covered entities (including optometrists) must retain records for at least 6 years from the date of last treatment.
• State laws: Some states require longer periods (e.g., California: 7 years). Always check your state board’s regulations.

Canada

• PHIPA (Ontario) and similar provincial acts: Minimum 10 years from last treatment.

United Kingdom

• GDPR: Retain only as long as necessary for the purpose collected.
• College of Optometrists recommendation: 10 years from last treatment.

Australia

• Privacy Act 1988: Health service providers must retain records for at least 7 years from last treatment.

Optometrists should maintain written policies, securely store records, and ensure compliant disposal after the retention period expires.