Having an Eye Test In France

Getting your eyes tested in France is different to getting them tested in the UK. It can just take a little more organisation! Here is how I understand how it works.

1.    If you want your eyes examined and are not claiming money back from the French Health Service then you can just make an appointment with your optician. They will do an examination and dispense spectacles as necessary. You are not entitled to have your prescription and use it in another optician.

2.    If you want to claim money from the health service then you can either a) have your eyes examined as above and then take the information to your GP who will supply you with a prescription. Return to the optician and they will put their stamp on it and you can send it to the health service for payment. The prescription from the GP lasts 3 years so you can have retests in the 3 year period without consulting your GP again or b) see your GP for a prescription to get an eye examination and take it with you to the opticians. This also lasts 3 years and the optician can use it to give you your Feuille de Soins to claim money back.

3.    Under 16’s. To test a child under 16 you must produce the GP’s prescription before spectacles can be sold to the child although you can have an eye examination first.

I hope this clarifies matters for you.
My thanks to M. Dubié of the French AOF for his help in this matter.