Can I get an eye test at an opticians?

Are there opticians who will test your eyes and make up glasses for you based on the results?

It is not possible to have an eye test and obtain a glasses prescription at an optician’s.

There are two ways to do this: either by seeing an eye doctor – ophthalmologist (or ‘ophtalmo’) – though there are long waits in some areas, or, if you are aged 16 to 42 you can visit an orthoptist for a first prescription, as long as you do not suffer from eyesight issues related to an underlying medical condition, such as cataracts or glaucoma. The latter is a specialist in the treatment of eye conditions through re-education.

For people who already wear glasses, an eye test and prescription can only be done by an orthoptist if the last check-up from an ophthalmologist was less than five years ago (three years for contact lens wearers). 

Once you have a prescription, you can then go to an optician to select your glasses. Prescriptions last five years between ages 16 and 42, or three years for older patients. 

During that time, you can go directly to the optician to change your glasses, and they can give you an eye test and adapt the prescription if necessary (the doctor may, however, state this is not possible under your prescription if you suffer from certain conditions).

The Alain Afflelou chain of opticians offers online consultations with an ophthalmologist, via in-store consultation rooms in a number of areas where there is a shortage of eye doc- tors. 

Ophthalmologist and orthoptist trade unions are, however, opposed to digital consultations in shops, saying they are motivated by profit and online appointments should be car- ried out by local doctors, then followed by in-person consultations if needed.

A selection of glasses is available at no upfront cost if you have mutuelle top-up insurance, under the 100% Santé scheme. See Chapter 7. Some opticians might accept non-EU glasses prescriptions but they are not required to do so and these will not be reimbursed.