Guide to French Health System

16. Opticians & Ophthalmic Treatment in France

Opticians are not part of the French health service, and they do not ordinarily undertake eye tests.

They can sell you a pair of spectacles but, unless you have a medical prescription from an ophthalmologist, you will not be eligible for any financial assistance from the social security system.

However, where you have previously received a medical prescription for glasses then, within a three year period, an optician can undertake a new eye test and prescribe a new pair to you, for which reimbursement on the usual terms is available.

Some voluntary insurance policies do offer assistance with the cost of glasses purchased without prescription, provided they were purchased from authorised opticians and for existing users. You would need to contact your insurer to find out if this was the case.

An ophthalmologist (a doctor who has chosen to specialise in eye care) can undertake a medical examination and provide you with a medical prescription for glasses, or undertake any other medical treatment that may be necessary. You do not need to go through your family doctor to make an appointment to see an ophthalmologist.

A visit to the ophthalmologist is likely to cost anything from €30 to €80 (as most charge fees above the official rate, and it will vary by nature of the consultation), of which only €15 will be reimbursed by the social security system.

Nevertheless, as there is a serious shortage of ophthalmologists in France, you are likely to have to wait a long time for an appointment. As a result, since April 2022, it is possible for an orthoptist to undertake, under certain conditions, an examination and prescribe a pair of spectacles or contact lenses.

Official rates for glasses and certain other ophthalmic prescriptions have not been increased for many years, so the actual cost glasses or other prescription far outstrips any reimbursement you may receive.

Thus, although most ophthalmic prescriptions are reimbursed at the rate of 65%, the base rate on which they are calculated is so low as to be quite ridiculous, particularly for adults.

In the case of a pair of glasses the reimbursement is likely to be no more than a few euros, although it is a little more generous for children.

It is rare for there to be any reimbursement at all from the social security for contact lenses, laser treatment is not reimbursable, and there are significant restrictions on the types of lenses that are eligible for reimbursement.

If, however, you are on a very low income, then all treatment will be provided free of charge, provided it is within upper cost limits.

Since 1st January 2020 the regulations regarding prescription glasses have changed substantially, with free glasses available to most households. You can read about this change in our Newsletter article at Free Prescription Glasses in France.

If you have taken out voluntary health insurance, you should find that your health insurer will have a list of recommended opticians, and by using one of them, you are likely to be be able to buy lenses at a preferential rate.

However, be careful about being offered frames and lenses that are in excess of what you may normally require in daily life. A favourite selling gimmick is to throw in a second pair of glasses free of charge, except that you may have already paid through the nose for the first pair!

An optician should provide you with a written estimate of the cost, and you would be well advised to seek two or three estimates before making a final decision.

In recent years the government has relaxed the rules on who can sell reading glasses, by stating that glasses can be sold over the internet and reading glasses are now widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

As a result, the price you will pay to a French optician can easily amount to several hundred euros, whereas the same pair of lenses and frames might cost you half as much on-line.

Many expats either buy their glasses in their home country, or on-line, via an English language site, although there are an increasing number of French language speaking sites available.

These include Confortvisuel, Directoptic, Easy-verres, Happyview, and Mavue-online.

Clearly, you do not get the professional advice and fitting service you might expect from an optician, and it is difficult to judge the quality of the frames and lenses, but that is a choice you need to make.

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