Glasses and lenses

Verified 21 August 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

How much eyeglasses or contact lenses are supported varies depending on your age and degree of correction. If you break or lose your glasses or change your vision, you can renew your glasses or lenses with an optician (within the period of validity of the prescription) or, under certain conditions, with an orthoptist. Tinted lenses can be supported in some cases. We'll lay out the rules for you.

FYI  

The 100% healthy enables better reimbursement through compliance with the responsible contract. A contract is said to be “responsible”, in particular when it does not set premiums according to the state of health of the insured and when it ensures a minimum additional coverage.

Glasses

A distinction must be made according to whether it is a 1re prescription or renewal.

First prescription

A prescription is the means by which a health care practitioner prescribes care, including an examination.

It is useful for reimbursement. So it has to be sent with the paper care sheet.

In addition to the ophthalmologist, the optician-eyewear specialist and the orthoptist can intervene in the treatment of your vision problems.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Ophthalmologist

He's the eye and vision doctor. He's the one who, most often, prescribed eyeglasses.

It monitors your eyes and vision, performs examinations, detects any disorders or diseases. They may also prescribe drugs, do rehabilitation, or do eye surgery.

FYI  

You do not need to see your doctor for regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist.

Optician-eyeglass

The optician-eyeglasses may adapt the prescription 2 conditions:

  • The prescriber did not write an order stating his objection
  • The prescriber agreed to the request from the optician.

Please note

After being requested by the optician-eyeglass, if the prescriber has not given an answer, it is considered to be positive after 10 days.

Orthoptist

If you have no contraindication and if you are between 16 and 42 years of ageHowever, the orthoptist may do a visual check and, if needed, establishes a requirement for a 1re pair of glasses with corrective lenses.

FYI  

You do not need to go through your doctor or get a prescription for this check-up.

Renewal

The date of seniority of your order must be taken into account. Indeed, the order is valid for a period it depends on the situation. It is important to distinguish whether the glasses are broken or more suitable for vision.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Broken glasses

Whether or not a doctor is needed depends on your age.

From 16 years

If your prescription is less than 3 years oldHowever, to replace your broken glasses, it is not necessary to return to the doctor (ophthalmologist). The optician can deliver glasses equipped with corrective lenses identical to those broken. The reimbursement of your glasses by your health insurance fund is done under the usual conditions.

If the order is more than 3 years oldHowever, you will have to go back to the doctor: he will prescribe new glasses that will be reimbursed under the usual conditions.

Please note

In the event of loss or breakage of corrective lenses, when urgency is observed and in the absence of a suitable medical solution, opticians may exceptionally supply new glasses without a prescription.

Before age 16

You should see your doctor (ophthalmologist) to get a new prescription. Even if the previous ones were refunded less than 1 year ago, the new ones will be taken care of. The optician who will issue them to you will have to indicate on the prescription that the previous ones have been broken.

Please note

In the event of loss or breakage of corrective lenses, when urgency is observed and in the absence of a suitable medical solution, opticians may exceptionally supply new glasses without a prescription.

Eyeglasses that are more adapted to the view

The rules for how long a prescription is valid vary depending on your age.

From 43 years

For corrective lenses to be dispensed by an optician or orthoptic, you must present a prescription.

The period of validity of the medical prescription is set at 3 years.

Your glasses will be reimbursed by your health insurance fund under the usual conditions.

If your prescription is more than 3 years old, consult a doctor (ophthalmologist).

Between 16 and 42 years old

For corrective lenses to be dispensed by an optician or orthoptic, you must present a prescription.

The period of validity shall be:

  • 5 years for the medical prescription
  • 2 years for orthoptic prescription.

Your glasses will be reimbursed by your health insurance fund under the usual conditions.

If your prescription is exceeded, consult a doctor (ophthalmologist) or, under certain conditions, an orthoptic specialist who will prescribe new glasses that will be reimbursed under the usual conditions.

Please note

If you are between 16 and 42 years old, you can benefit from a visual assessment and a prescription from a orthoptist. To do this, the last visual assessment performed by the ophthalmologist must be less than 5 years old. You must not present a contraindication listed by the department.

Before age 16

You should see your doctor (ophthalmologist) to get a new prescription.

The order is valid for 1 year.

Your glasses will be reimbursed by your health insurance fund under the usual conditions.

FYI  

it is possible to carry out a visual assessment by an orthoptist in the context of the renewal/adaptation of the optical corrections for a child aged 6 to 15 years, analyzed via telemedicine by an ophthalmologist.

Reimbursement rules change depending on whether or not you are 18 years old.

FYI  

There are 2 classes for optical equipment:

  • Class A: no charge (offer 100% Health)
  • Class B: Prices are free (excluding offer 100% Health).

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

From 18 years

The eyeglass frame is reimbursed to 60% on the basis of a tariff fixed at €9 for Class A and €0.05 for Class B.

Eyeglass lenses are reimbursed to 60% based on variable tariffs depending on the degree of correction and their classification A or B.

Your health insurance or supplementary health insurance may cover all or part of the costs which are not reimbursed by the health insurance, if the contract you have subscribed to so provides. Find out from her.

Before age 18

The eyeglass frame is reimbursed to 60% on the basis of a tariff fixed at €9 for Class A and €0.05 for Class B.

Eyeglass lenses are reimbursed to 60% based on variable tariffs depending on the degree of correction and their classification (A or B).

Your health insurance or supplementary health insurance may cover all or part of the costs which are not reimbursed by the health insurance, if the contract you have subscribed to so provides. Find out from her.

Please note

You may be reimbursed for one or more pair(s) of glasses per year if your vision impairment changes.

Contact lenses

A distinction must be made according to whether it is a 1re prescription or renewal.

First prescription

A prescription is the means by which a health care practitioner prescribes care, including an examination.

It is useful for reimbursement. So it has to be sent with the paper care sheet.

In addition to the ophthalmologist, the optician-eyewear specialist and the orthoptist can intervene in the treatment of your vision problems.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Ophthalmologist

He's the eye and vision doctor. He's the one who most often prescribes lenses.

It monitors your eyes and vision, performs examinations, detects any disorders or diseases. They may also prescribe drugs, do rehabilitation, or do eye surgery.

FYI  

You do not need to see your doctor for regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist.

Optician-eyeglass

The optician can adapt the prescription to 2 conditions:

  • The prescriber did not write an order stating his objection
  • The prescriber agreed to the request from the optician.

Please note

If the prescriber has not given an answer, it is considered favorable after 10 days.

Orthoptist

If you have no contraindication and if you are between 16 and 42 years of age, the orthoptic doctor can do a visual check and, if necessary, prescribe a 1re pair of lenses.

You do not need to go through your doctor or get a prescription for this check-up.

Renewal

The order is valid for a period which depends on your age.

Menstrual periods vary according to your age.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

From 16 years

The optician or orthoptist may adapt, in the context of a renewal of supply, optical corrections to medical prescriptions for eye contact lenses dating from less than:

  • 3 years for a medical prescription 
  • 2 years for orthoptic prescription.

Please note

These times may be limited by the healthcare professional who wrote the prescription.

Your lenses will be reimbursed by your health insurance fund under the usual conditions.

If your prescription is exceeded, consult a doctor (ophthalmologist) or, under certain conditions, an orthoptic surgeon. Your doctor will prescribe new lenses which will be reimbursed under the usual conditions.

FYI  

If you have between 16 and 42 years, you can benefit from a visual assessment and a prescription from a orthoptist. To do this, the last visual assessment performed by the ophthalmologist must be less than 3 years old. In addition, you must not submit a contraindication listed by the department.

Before age 16

The rules depend on the date of seniority of your order.

The order is less than a year old

You can go to the optician or the orthoptist. Your doctor may renew your lenses and adapt them to your vision without a new prescription from the doctor (unless the prescriber objects to the prescription). He will first check your vision.

Your lenses will be reimbursed by your health insurance fund under the usual conditions.

The order is over a year old

You should consult a doctor (ophthalmologist) who will prescribe new lenses. They will be reimbursed under the usual conditions.

Repayment Term

Contact lenses are covered by the Health Insurance, on medical prescription, for the following indications:

  • Irregular astigmatism
  • Myopia equal to or greater than 8 diopters
  • Accommodative strabismus
  • Aphakia
  • Eyeglass-uncorrectable 3-diopter anisometropia
  • Keratoconus.

Reimbursement rate

Contact lenses are reimbursed to 60% on the basis of an annual fixed-rate fixed at €39.48, whatever the type of lens (reusable or not, daily or weekly, etc.).

Please note

Your health insurance or supplementary health insurance may cover all or part of the costs which are not reimbursed by the health insurance, if the contract you have subscribed to so provides. Find out from her.