Optical equipment renewal: French orthoptists to have the same rights as opticians

Until now, orthoptists could not prescribe or renew medical prescriptions for corrective lenses or contact lenses. That prerogative had been reserved to opticians since 2007.

But this will all change in a few months : on 16 July a final vote at the senate in favour of a law to reorganise and transform the healthcare system gave orthoptists the same rights as opticians in terms of the renewal of optical equipment.

Article 33, proposed by Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn, modifies article L4342-1 of the public health code by removing the exception and specifying explicitly that orthoptists may “adapt, as part of a renewal, the initial medical prescription of corrective lenses and ocular contact lenses, unless the doctor opposes it.” The conditions of this transition will be set by a decree from the State Council, after consultation with the National Medical Academy.

The SNAO (the syndicate of autonomous orthoptists) is delighted with the reform: “Thanks to this major advancement that will apply to all orthoptists, the SNAO feels that the visual sector will finally be able to count on the whole profession to care for its patients and attempt to reduce the delays for appointments that have been such a problem in the past.”