11. Opticians & Opthalmic Treatment in France

Opticians are not part of the 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.

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 will be in a position of undertaking a medical examination and providing you with a medical prescription for glasses or undertaking any other medical treatment that may be necessary.

Nevertheless, as there is a serious shortage of opthalmologists, you are likely to have to wait a long time for an appointment, and do not hold your breath about the level of reimbursement you are going to get from the social security system.

Official rates for glasses and many other ophthalmic prescriptions have not been increased for decades, so the actual cost glasses or other prescription far outstrips any reimbursement that will be given.

In the case of a pair of glasses the reimbursement is likely to be no more than a few euros, although it is 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 and you benefit from CMU Complementaire then all treatment will be provided free of charge, provided it is within upper cost limits.