Just looking at some online advertising by an optician and I’d prefer to buy 100% paid glasses if possible - I only wear them in front of the computer and to read so no way do they need to be fancy. But I’m not sure whether I’m eligible. Please could someone explain this paragraph. Thanks.
Pour bénéficier de l’offre 100 % Santé, dite de « classe A » ou « panier A », il est nécessaire d’être titulaire d’un contrat de complémentaire santé responsable à jour ou d’une complémentaire santé solidaire (ex CMU-c).
Also, if I am eligible, can I buy two different pairs? I don’t like varilux or bifocal so what I do at the moment is have two plain lenses - one for close reading and one for medium distance / computer work.
Can’t understand why French Santé won’t pay just a few pennies towards prisms, when I so badly need them to see… but if Santé won’t touch 'em, I’m out in the cold for the 100%…
The 100% santé means with the most basic of mutuelles you pay nothing. Everyone is eligible for these glasses, so the qualifier refers to the mutuelle not you. We don’t have a mutuelle so OH had to pay I think it was 30€ for them. They are the equivalent of old NHS glasses (if you remember them?) so nothing fancy.
Usually, your mutuelle contract will indicate whether or not they are partnered with one or groups that work with one or brands of opticians to provide a small selection of spec frames covered by the 100% guarantee.
I didn’t like any of the frames that Krys had in that range, and I wanted varifocals, so ended up paying quite a lot more, but still well covered by the mutuelle for the type of frame and quality of lenses (working in front of a screen for 8 hours a day, I was prepared to fork out for something decent). Still significantly cheaper than my first pair of varifocals, despite the improvements in technology.
That is what I thought and asked my Opticien to repeat what she was saying, several times. She was adamant that the prisms meant I was not eligible… and I was so incredulous… since it’s impossible to walk about, let alone drive without prisms in my glasses.
I’ve received the quote and I’m going back in next week… and have another go at understanding just why I am stuck “in the expensive track”… when I was quite happy to go for the 100% stuff…
I have a very cheap €49 mutuelle (I’m over 70) and got a pair of new, varilux glasses for €0 at my local optician. Only drawback was that I had to accept some pretty naff frames. But they have all the fixtures and fittings - thinned down lenses, special coating etc. I had asked for new lenses to be put in my old frames … but that would’ve cost me €270. Incidentally, I got this done with a ‘prescription’ from my généraliste which simply stated ‘Une paire de lunettes’: no need for a visit to the Opthalmo.
Looking at some of the comments here, I’m a bit confused. First @Stella , what do you mean by ‘prisms’ ?. Also, my wife has just got 2 pairs of varifocal glasses, with a complex prescription 100% santé, so it’s definitely possible. Maybe it depends on the level of cover from your mutuelle ?
Edit: reading futher, I see what ‘prisms’ are. I had visions of two actual prisms attached to the front of your glasses
You’ll need an ordonnance from somebody, @SuePJ . I went to the opthalmalogue and she gave me one but your MT would be easier if he/she will do one for you…
SuePJ,
You should try ready-made reading glasses. I have been using them for 20 years and occasionally changing the magnification. They come in a variety of mags. Lidl sell them once or twice a year for €2 +. Market stalls are dearer at €6 or 2 for €5
To find out what you need, just go to a market stall and try them out. The only mag you can’t get from Lidl or the mkts is 120 mag. I got my 120s from a € shop in Gorey, Co Wexford!
I have to use normal glasses for everyday usage, and started using ready-mades, because I lost my reading glasses twice on trains! Expensive!!
I know it sounds corny, but I just slip the readers behind my glasses and get the required result.
My french friends and local restaurants call me “Mr 2 glasses”!
In my clock workshop, I use 250 and for small print reference books. For computer work I use 120. For my Kindle I use the 120.
