My son who is 55 cannot get a prescription for new glasses unless he sees an opthamologiste because it is 5 years since his last test. There are only two in Beaune 21. The next RDV is February next year. Unbelievable that an optician cannot issue a prescription, even though they give you an eye test. BIZARRE!!
Not unbelievable, just the way it is done here. And there is a logic as ophthalmologists are more likely to spot serious eye diseases early. Plus France doesn’t have the luxury that the UK has of a huge number of south asian ophthalmologists.
i was walking past a Krys opticians the other day and there was a big sign in their windon about now doing téléconsultations with an ophtalmologue. He should look around and perhaps be prepared to travel further and may find an earlier appointment.
(Edit, there’s one in Nuits St George who has a rdv on 1st december. )
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I know all this i have lived here for 17 years. My point was, why do opticians give you an eye test then? They should refuse if they cannot give you a prescription.
Then, and agian, thank heavens for the French health system!
With time to kill recently in London, I popped into Specsaers and was tested by the ubiquitoes south asian who prescribed me bifocals at an exorbitant price. Returned after a few days to try them and nearly fell over! With a nodding head, he said I need to get used to them. B*llcks.
Back in God’s country, popped into one of the many in Limoux where a homegrown young lady just out of eye school, stopped the test half way through to tell me that my eyes are perfect but I have cataracts. She gave me the name of who she said was the best doctor - three weeks later, one eye done and two weeks after that, the other. Two years on, no glasses and all is good!
Specsavers must be used to their agents in-it-for-the-money as I complained bitterly to their h/o in Guernsey who had a full refund into my account within two days…
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They can test the standard stuff - cataracts, astigmatism, short / long sighted etc and since they are selling lenses fitting into fancy glass frames they need this info. They may also spot more serious stuff and point you in the direction of an ophthalmologist.
We both need ophthalmologist care - OH for scarring on his retina (is it dormant or not?) and me for corneal grafting (if and when).
The examination done by an ophtalmologue is in depth, it’s not just an eye test. The key is to make sure you book a rdv sufficiently in advance, every year. Fortunately next year isn’t too far away.
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Don’t get me started on the cheese, the language, the COMPLETE LACK of proper tea …
@Norsmith , has your son looked on Doctolib?
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Yes, there’re are two in Beaune, cannot make a RDV on Doctob though. Will telephone and hopefully won’t be too long 
As for your tea, I do know that Carrefour do liptons, well in Beaune anyway. Its like trying to get double cream haha, still I suppose being lucky enough to live in France we have to accept it.
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I have been in touch with her, I am an old patient. She is an opthoptist, it is different than an opthamologist. But thankyou so much.
Or maybe simply their customer service policy to refund without question? Things aren’t always as nefarious as you seem to think.
Looks like I need an ophthalmologist too 
Haha 
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We have just driven a round trip to Villefranche for a trip to the amopthomologist. We go because you can get an appointment quickly and the service is superb.
We noticed the pollution in the town, a horrible taste in our mouths. Thank goodness we don’t have to do that so often.
We also drove through a snowstorm coming back between Macon and Cluny.
I thought opticians tested whether you need specs, whether your specs are fit for purpose, lenses still the right strength, frames the right size etc. Do they look at the inside of your eye? Do they measure intra orbital pressure, check your corneas and retina etc? Do they look at eyeball wall thickness etc? I’m asking because I’m don’t know by the way.
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That’s the UK model. I think opticians just sell specs (measure you for them, of course, repair frames, …) but anything to do with what strength lens and the other stuff (photo of retina, for example) is done by, or under the supervision of, an ophthamologue.
So while you may visit an optician as a business, as I did recently (Krys), you won’t necessarily find someone who can write a prescription for your lenses. I had to travel elsewhere.
Others have found that their Krys does indeed provide tests and prescriptions.
Most all the opticians in Beaune give you an eye test. If under 3 years you get a prescription, then pick your glasses etc. If over 5 years you have to see an opthamologist.
I think it is a basic eye test, for a more thorough eye examination you need to see an opthamologist.
Well yes, my optician tests whether my prescription is ok for me which I suppose is an ‘eye test’ at about school nurse level, and I could get something more sophisticated done by an optometrist maybe, but my ophtalmologiste looks after the health of my eyes and prescribes corrective equipment, opticians aren’t doctors even in the UK, or are they?
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No, only an opthal can do that, they have to do 9 years training to be one and an ordinary optician can do checks but is not qualified to give verdicts on serious problems,