Changing ophthalmologists: your records, your prescription and continuity of care
A retirement, a house move, a practice that closes: sometimes you have to change ophthalmologist partway through your care. You are free to choose your own doctor, and changing does not cost you your medical records or the history behind your follow-up, provided the right documents are passed on. This page explains how to obtain a copy of your records, what your existing prescription is still worth, and what to bring depending on the condition you are being monitored for.
YOUR RECORDS
Obtaining a copy of your eye care records
Article L.1111-7 of the French public health code gives you access to all the health information held about you by a health professional or a healthcare facility. The request is made in writing to the doctor or to the practice, together with a copy of your photo ID.
Your record must be provided to you within eight days, extended to two months when the information is more than five years old. You may be charged for copying and postage, but viewing the file on site is free of charge.
When a doctor stops practicing, their records do not disappear: they are kept, handed over to a successor, or archived. If the practice does not reply, the departmental board of the Ordre des médecins (the French medical council) can tell you how to proceed.
What is worth asking for first
- Your operative reports, if you have had surgery (cataract, corneal graft, retina, laser).
- Successive OCT scans — what counts is the comparison over time.
- Previous visual field tests, which are essential in glaucoma.
- Corneal topographies, if you are being monitored for keratoconus.
- The model of the lens implant used, if you have had cataract surgery.
Is my prescription still valid?
How long an eyeglass prescription remains valid is set by article D.4362-12 of the French public health code, and depends on your age when it was written:
- Under 16: 1 year.
- From 16 to 42: 5 years.
- Over 42: 3 years.
- A prescription written by an orthoptist, however, is valid for 2 years: this rule depends on who wrote the prescription, not on your age.
During that period, the optician can adjust the correction. Once it has run out, a new consultation is needed. An expired prescription is not a reason to seek urgent care: it can wait for a scheduled appointment. A recent drop in vision, on the other hand, is never simply a prescription problem and warrants a consultation, whatever the date of the last prescription.
Not interrupting care that is already under way
Some situations call for the handover to happen without delay, because the monitoring schedule is itself part of the treatment:
- Glaucoma — treatment continues without interruption, and monitoring relies on comparing visual fields and OCT scans of the optic nerve.
- Keratoconus — it is the way topography changes over time that decides whether cross-linking is needed. Without the earlier topographies, everything has to start again from scratch.
- AMD treated with injections — the interval between injections is tailored to each patient; a delay can undo the benefit already gained.
- Diabetic retinopathy — annual screening remains indicated, and follow-up is coordinated with your diabetes specialist and your primary care doctor.
- After a corneal graft — follow-up and topical treatment continue, sometimes for years.
Frequently asked questions
Am I allowed to change ophthalmologist?
Yes. Free choice of doctor is a principle of the French public health code. You do not have to give any reason, and it does not affect your reimbursement: ophthalmology is directly accessible for many reasons for consulting, with no need to see your primary care doctor first.
My ophthalmologist is retiring, what should I do?
Ask for a copy of your records before the practice closes, and make an appointment with a new doctor straight away if you have a condition under follow-up. Records remain accessible after a practice has closed, but obtaining them takes longer.
Do I need a letter from my primary care doctor?
Ophthalmology is directly accessible for many reasons for consulting, including sight tests and renewing a correction. A letter from your primary care doctor is therefore not essential, but a letter does make it easier to pass on your medical history.
What if the practice does not send me my records?
Send the request again by registered letter (lettre recommandée). If there is still no reply, the departmental board of the Ordre des médecins can be asked to step in. The legal deadline is eight days, extended to two months for information more than five years old.
Can I be seen without my old records?
Yes. The consultation can go ahead and the necessary tests are carried out on site. Earlier documents remain useful: they show how things have changed over time, which a single examination cannot.
Cachan practice — +33 1 45 47 08 11 · Paris 13th practice — +33 1 89 31 30 60
Disclaimer
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation.
The deadlines and validity periods given here are those set by the regulations in force at the time of writing, and they may change. If you are unsure what to do, ask a healthcare professional for advice.