Contact lenses in France.

[WonkyCatonkey]

I'm due a contact lense check, my first since moving to France. my local optician said to see an ophthalmologist first. I made an appointment with an ophthalmologist, waited 3 months for it, then when I turned up it today I was told I had the time wrong and that I was an hour late so now face a further 2 month wait for a new appointment...... Anyhow while telling my English friend my tale of woe she said she thought that not all ophthalmologists where equipped to write contact lense prescriptions! I'm totally confused now (France has that effect on me) does anyone know how to you get contacts in France? I live in the middle of sodding nowhere in quite a rural area. Thanks :)

My DH (French) used to work as an optician when we were in France and he says all ophthalmologists will be able to give a contact lens prescription, though you could always phone yours to check. Apparently opticians can renew contact lens prescriptions (if they are less than 3 years old I think) but not give new ones.

Oh thank you so much for replying Weta (and your DH) that's a brilliant help :) I was in a bit of a flap earlier lol, my French is far from brilliant and because of that I shy away from asking questions! (bad I know, but I'm trying hard to improve) then my friend had me wondering if I was making the wrong appointment... Thanks again :)

If it's any help I get my contacts from here and go for checks every 2 years or so (when I was in the UK, they were every 6 months, but since I've been in France the opthalmo I saw said there was no reason for less than every 2 years as my vision was stable)

It was actually at his suggestion that I order them online as I can't get the type I use in France, something to do with licensing, and he said they are a very, very good brand and my eyes show next to no signs of constant CL usage.

Probably not at all what you were looking for, but a useful link if you need new ones in a hurry.

I also wear contacts and live in France. My best suggestion is that you make an appointment to get your eyes checked and make sure they're healthy, but then actually buy your contacts online.

I use www.getlenses.com and you don't have to have a valid prescription if they're posting to France (but still good to check your eyes are healthy regularly). It's also the cheapest place I've found and very reliable, so totally recommended.

You can also have your eyes tested in a normal high street opticians in France, but they don't do a thorough check and don't give you an official presciption like the opthamalog does.

Alternatively, have your eyes tested in Boots/Specsavers etc when you're next in the UK and still buy your contacts from get lenses.

link www.getlenses.com

I get contact lens check in UK when I go for visits and order my lenses online - it's faster for me to go to the UK than wait for 3 - 6 months for the appointment with the opthalmo.

Daysoft contacts are great and cost a fraction of the cost of other lenses. They come in a small blister pack - and you peel them off. My DH uses them all the time and says no difference in them and the (expensive) ones he used before (from Boots). Cost is about 5? for a pack of 30. We buy 6 months supply and it is about 78? P+P included.

www.daysoft.co.uk

Once you have your prescription, you can buy your lenses anywhere you want. I agree with the other commentators, you should buy them online, faster and cheaper.

FGC have a UK and French site.

UK: www.feelgoodcontacts.com/
FR: www.feelgoodcontacts.fr/ (BIEN10 for 10% off first order)

Good luck.

As others have said your fastest option may be online.

All opthalmologists can prescribe lenses, but you will need separate, specific prescriptions for glasses and lenses.

If you have a good mutuelle, you may get your lenses free - my DS and DH both get theirs reimbursed . Theoretically there's an annual limit but we have yet to encounter it!