Why glasses cost so much in France – and how to find cheaper options
Price of seemingly similar glasses can vary by as much as double
In France, to buy glasses you first need a prescription issued by a specialist eye doctor
Terelyuk/Shutterstock
France has long held the dubious honour of being one of the most expensive places to buy glasses in Europe, according to French media BFMTV.
Recently, however, government schemes and a growth of online options mean there could be more ways to save on lenses and frames.
A Connexion reader got in touch after being quoted wildly differing prices for the same lenses at different opticians.
He wanted to know which opticians had the best prices for “high-end lenses, such as new generation progressive lenses (multifocal lenses that correct vision at different working distances in a gradual change in prescription)”.
This issue is not unusual in France, according to consumer organisation UFC-Que Choisir.
Among France’s 12,000 optical retail outlets, the price of seemingly similar glasses can vary by as much as double, it said. And for progressive lenses the cost can be up to €1,000.
Long road to a prescription
In France, to buy glasses you first need a prescription issued by a specialist eye doctor (ophtalmologiste or ophthamologue) after a consultation.
Waits can be long, so reader Malcolm Hicks suggested making annual appointments well in advance using Doctolib.
“That way I keep a check on how my sight is progressing and get a new prescription if needed.”
You then take your prescription to a retail optician, where you can choose your frames.
Make sure the optician is affiliated with your mutuelle health insurance, which means the top-up insurance will pay towards the cost of your glasses.
You will receive an estimate (devis), which you can send to your mutuelle to see how much you will have to pay.
Why are they so expensive?
More than 90% of people in France have some form of top up to cover the healthcare costs that remain after reimbursement by the social security system.
However, this in turn helps drive up the price of glasses, according to the president of French mutuelle federation La Mutualité Française Eric Chenut, who voiced his concerns about the spiralling cost of healthcare top ups to French media on April 11.
He singled out glasses as one of the worst excesses in top up spending.
This is largely due to the fact that many top up mutuelles offer a new pair of glasses every two years, which in turn naturally pushes up prices.
"We are continuing to open opticians‘ shops in our country, even though we have more than twice the European average," Mr Chenut told French media on April 11.
He proposed that in order to cut prices mutuelles need to reduce the frequency that they propose new glasses. However, this remains no more than a proposal.
Use the 100% Santé to reduce costs
Since 2020, the government’s 100% Santé scheme has required all opticians to offer a certain number of basic glasses options for free.
One Connexion reader said: “We go for 100% Santé. We went to Optic 2000 where there was a wide choice of frames for free. We paid €7 each for everything.”
Under the scheme, social security pays 60% towards the cost and your mutuelle pays 40%.
To benefit, you need to be subscribed to France's social security and have a top-up mutuelle in place.
The scheme covers costs of up to €95 for low-correction, single-strength prescriptions (+2 or -2 in strength), or €180 for progressive or bifocal lenses.
For stronger prescriptions, this rises to €265 for single-strength lenses or €370 for progressive/bifocal lenses.
However, for those who want anything above the basic offerings included in 100% Santé, prices can soon spiral.
One reader recently bought a pair of progressive lenses and a pair of sunglasses from Alain Affelou, a popular retail optician chain in France.
“The price for two pairs was €620, €200 of which was paid by our mutuelle,” said Mike Duffy.
UK-based companies
Many readers suggested bypassing French retail opticians altogether and instead buying online. After being quoted €600 for varifocal glasses, Mr Hicks used UK-based Glasses2You.
“They took the French prescription and sent me the glasses. They were spot on and the price was £135 (€155).”
Shipping from the UK will mean paying import taxes.
French websites can also offer good deals.
“After paying over €500 the first time I bought progressive lenses here in France, I thought I’d try EasyLunettes – fantastic result for about €200,” said Deborah Horan.
