To lighten the burden on ophthalmologists and allow patients better access to visual care, orthoptists can now prescribe glasses and contact lenses directly to 16-42 year olds.
- An orthoptic prescription has the same value as a medical prescription and benefits from the same reimbursement rate.
- This new provision responds to the problem of access to visual care encountered by nearly six million patients in France and overseas.
This prerogative was enshrined in the Social Security financing law of April 2022, it is now in place. Since February 1, orthoptists can prescribe glasses and contact lenses directly to 16-42 year olds, provided, among other things, that they have no pathology related to sight. (glaucoma, history of refractive surgery, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc.).
Prescription of glasses: the ophthalmologist is no longer a must
Until now, to be prescribed eyeglasses and contact lenses, you had to go through an ophthalmologist, orthoptists only being able to renew certain visual corrections. Orthoptists are specialists in ocular screening, re-education and rehabilitation. They intervene in particular at the request of an ophthalmologist to measure the visual field or detect strabismus.
This extension of the prerogatives of orthoptists is not, however, without limit. Indeed, the patient must be between 16 and 42 years old and if he already wears glasses, he can only consult an orthoptist if his last visual assessment carried out by an ophthalmologist is less than five years old, or three years in case for wearing lenses.
In addition, children under 16 do not currently have direct access to the orthoptist. This ban will be lifted as of June 7, 2023.
Other health professionals see their prerogatives extended
For ophthalmologists, this novelty represents a “deterioration in the quality of care with direct access to these paramedical professionals. However, this progress is part of a desire by all governments to unclog ophthalmologists’ surgeries and reduce patient waiting times for a consultation.
Beyond visual health, the current government also wants to facilitate access to care by allowing patients to make appointments directly with nurses, physiotherapists or speech therapists, without going through a general practitioner. The text of the deputy Stéphanie Rist has already been adopted at first reading in the National Assembly and must pass tomorrow, February 14, by the Senate.
