Eye care

Coverage for glasses and contact lenses

Eye problems may be caused by many factors. If you experience discomfort or a decrease in vision, several professionals may be involved in treating you depending on the cause. This includes eye doctors – ophthalmologists – and several paramedical roles.

One point to note is that eye doctors play a bigger role here than in some other countries, for example, they carry out eye tests. You cannot go directly to an optician and be tested and obtain glasses without passing via a doctor.

Eye care is also one of the sectors covered by the 100% Santé scheme to help ensure even those on low incomes have the correct glasses for their needs.

Ophthalmologists

An ophthalmologist is your first point of call for serious eye and vision issues. Ophthalmologists, often known as un ophthalmo, carry out eye examinations, detect disorders or diseases, prescribe medication and rehabilitation and, if needed, do surgery or prescribe glasses and contact lenses. They can also monitor your eye health.

If you do not have easy access to one, a GP can prescribe optical equipment if they have training in this.

To book a first appointment or to renew an optical prescription, it is not necessary to request a prior referral from a GP; you can book directly.

You will be reimbursed as for a normal specialist (the basic tariff is €31.50).

Opticians

Opticians sell glasses and contact lenses based on a valid ophthalmologist’s prescription. They can though do basic eye tests free of charge and modify prescriptions if they discover your correction has changed (unless the ophthalmologist has noted opposition to this or in the case of discovering near-sightedness for the first time).

Some opticians are also optometrists.

Optometrists

These are paramedical professionals trained to examine your eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or other types of abnormality. They can offer advice with regard to the effects of diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure on your vision.

Orthoptist

Orthoptists are paramedical professionals who are expert in diagnosing and treating defects in eye movement. They are able to perform eye screening examinations, vision exploration, eye re-education as well as general rehabilitation of your vision.

A visit is reimbursed at up to 60%.

To consult for such purposes you usually need a prescription from a doctor, apart from in an emergency.

An orthoptist is authorised to prescribe medical devices such as sterile eye washers and eye patches.

If you suffer from a visual impairment, an orthoptist can prescribe a white cane. Such prescriptions issued by orthoptists are valid for 12 months.

A law also allows them to prescribe glasses and contact lenses for patients aged 16 to 42, in simple cases without complicating conditions.

If the patient has already been using glasses/lenses, this is only possible if his or her last eye check by an ophthalmologist dates from less than five years for glasses or three for lenses.

An orthoptist who has given a first glasses/lenses prescription can renew it if it dates from less than two years before; otherwise the person should see an ophthalmologist.

Validity of prescriptions

Your original optical prescription remains valid for some time unless it specifies to the contrary.

Prescriptions for corrective lenses expire after a year for people under 16; five years for those aged 16 to 42 and three years for those older than this.

The validity of prescriptions for contact lenses is a year for under-16s or otherwise three years.

Make sure you look after your prescription as you may make repeated use of it. If you lose it, you will have to book a new consultation for which you may have to pay.

Online eye appointments

The Alain Affelou opticians chain offers ophthalmologist appointments over the internet at some branches equipped with consultation rooms. This allows doctors to detect issues such as cataracts.

 Patients are directed to a practice where they can receive a physical exam if needed. The ophthalmologists are chosen by the firm, which provides the technology, but there is no obligation to buy glasses. 

This is not the only example of technology being used to bring eye care to more people. For example, the Point Vision group of ophthalmology centres launched a video consultation centre in Saint-Quentin (Aisne), in a scheme with Assurance Maladie. 

Patients are seen by an orthoptist, who provides an online link with a doctor. In another scheme, by Optical Center, vans carrying eye test equipment and glasses and hearing aids are used to help people in rural areas. There is also a similar bus service provided by Lunettes Pour Tous.