All your questions, my answers.
Around fifty clear answers, organized by topic, to help you understand your options before your visit: refractive surgery, cataract, presbyopia, eye conditions, fees and the patient journey. If you can't find your answer, ask the practice directly.
Before booking an appointment
The easiest way is Doctolib: real-time availability, instant confirmation, accessible 24/7. For non-urgent questions or specific situations, my front desk can be reached on 01 84 19 11 66 (+33 1 84 19 11 66) during office hours.
A first visit for a refractive or cataract surgery pre-operative assessment takes between 30 and 60 minutes. It includes a detailed medical history, corneal imaging (topography, OCT), a retinal (fundus) examination and time dedicated to your questions.
A simple follow-up visit is shorter (15–20 minutes).
Depending on the reason for your visit, I perform all or some of these tests:
- Refraction with and without dilation to measure your prescription precisely
- Corneal topography (Anterion — Heidelberg swept-source OCT) to map your cornea and screen for early keratoconus
- Tear film and dry eye assessment (Schirmer test, NIBUT, meibography)
- OCT of the optic nerve and macula
- Dilated fundus examination
- Tonometry (intraocular pressure)
All of these tests are painless.
- Your Carte Vitale and complementary health insurance (mutuelle) card
- Your current glasses (and their prescription if possible)
- Your contact lens boxes (brand and power)
- Any previous medical reports you have (other ophthalmologists, earlier tests)
- Your list of medications or current prescription
Yes, so that the corneal measurements are reliable. I recommend:
- Soft lenses: stop at least 48 hours before, ideally 7 days
- Rigid gas-permeable lenses (RGP): stop at least 3 weeks before
- Orthokeratology lenses (Ortho-K): stop 1 to 3 months before so the cornea can return to its natural shape
Remember to bring your glasses.
A standard medical consultation is reimbursed by the French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie) according to the doctor's contractual sector. A pre-operative assessment for refractive surgery includes additional tests, some of which may not be covered when the surgery is purely elective (as is the case for refractive surgery). The fee is specified when you book your appointment.
Of course. A consultation may very well end with a recommendation not to operate (prescription stable over time, contact lenses well tolerated, contraindications) or to postpone the decision. My role is to give you objective information for your decision, with no sales pressure.
Refractive surgery
LASIK, SMILE, Trans-PRK, PresbyLASIK and ICL phakic lenses.
Three laser techniques with the same goal — reshaping your cornea to free you from glasses — but with different approaches:
- LASIK: a corneal flap is created with a femtosecond laser and lifted, then the excimer laser reshapes the underlying tissue. Fast recovery (24 hours).
- SMILE: a lenticule of tissue is cut inside the cornea, then removed through a micro-incision of about 3 mm. No flap. Especially attractive for contact-sport athletes.
- Trans-PRK: the excimer laser works on the surface, with no instrument contact at all. Ideal for thin corneas or occupations with a risk of eye trauma (military, combat sports).
The choice depends on your cornea, your prescription and your lifestyle — which is exactly what the pre-operative assessment is for.
The general requirements are: age ≥ 18, a prescription that has been stable for at least 1 year, and a cornea and ocular surface suitable for the procedure. Corneal conditions (keratoconus, dystrophies) or severe dry eye may be contraindications to laser surgery.
Only a full assessment can give you a precise answer. You can use the 4-question eligibility test for a first indication.
The procedure itself is painless: anesthesia with eye drops, no needles, no stitches.
- LASIK and SMILE: mild discomfort for 2 to 4 hours after surgery (gritty feeling, watering). Back to normal the next day.
- Trans-PRK: moderate pain for 24 to 72 hours while the surface epithelium heals, relieved by oral painkillers and a bandage contact lens worn for 2 to 3 days (removed at Day 3).
The laser treatment itself lasts 30 seconds to 1 minute per eye. Including preparation, positioning and checks, allow 15 to 20 minutes for both eyes. It is an outpatient procedure: you go home an hour later, accompanied.
- LASIK / SMILE: work and screens from Day 1, driving from Day 1 if vision is satisfactory, gym from Day 7, swimming from Day 15, contact sports from Day 30.
- Trans-PRK: 5 to 7 days off work, gradual return to screens, gym from Day 15, swimming from Day 30.
These timeframes are a guide and are adjusted to your case at the post-operative visit.
Every procedure carries risks, however small. For refractive surgery, the main risks are:
- Post-operative dry eye, usually temporary (3–6 months)
- Halos and glare at night during the first weeks
- Under- or overcorrection, rarely requiring an enhancement
- Flap complications with LASIK (very rare with the femtosecond laser)
- Infection (exceptional, < 1 in 1,000)
These risks are detailed in the informed consent form given to you before the procedure.
Yes, the correction achieved by the laser is stable and permanent. However, your eye keeps aging: presbyopia will naturally appear around age 45 even after LASIK for myopia, and a cataract may develop later on. The laser does not stop the eye's biological clock.
Beyond roughly −10 D of myopia, corneal laser surgery is no longer the best option because it would weaken the cornea too much. The alternative is the ICL phakic lens (Implantable Collamer Lens): a soft lens inserted between the iris and the natural lens, without touching the natural lens. Reversible if needed. It is also indicated for thin corneas, stable keratoconus or high hyperopia.
Cataract & lens surgery
There is no absolute emergency: cataracts progress slowly. The decision to operate is made once the visual impairment affects your daily life: difficulty driving at night, strenuous reading, altered color perception, reduced independence. Regular follow-up makes it possible to choose the right time, neither too early nor too late.
The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes, under local anesthesia with eye drops (you remain awake but feel nothing). I make a micro-incision (2.2 mm), break up the clouded lens with ultrasound (phacoemulsification), remove the fragments, then insert the intraocular lens that replaces the natural lens. No stitches, no sutures.
It is an outpatient procedure: you go home 1–2 hours later.
There are 4 main families of lenses, chosen together according to your needs:
- Monofocal (reimbursed): sharp vision at one distance (usually far), glasses needed for the rest
- EDOF (Extended Depth of Focus): continuous distance + intermediate vision (computer), glasses only for fine print
- Multifocal / trifocal: distance + intermediate + near vision without glasses, at the cost of possible halos around lights
- Toric: simultaneous correction of significant corneal astigmatism
The choice is discussed during the consultation based on your lifestyle, your expectations and the condition of your eye.
Yes — it is actually one of the great advantages of modern cataract surgery. With an EDOF, trifocal or toric lens, I can correct your cataract, presbyopia and astigmatism at the same time. This is known as refractive lens surgery.
In almost all cases: local anesthesia with eye drops. You are awake but relaxed. The procedure is painless; you only see blurry lights. General anesthesia is reserved for specific situations (severe anxiety, involuntary movements, certain medical conditions).
In France, standard practice is to operate on the two eyes 1 to 4 weeks apart. This interval makes it possible to check the result in the first eye, adjust the lens for the second eye if needed and limit the risk of infection in both eyes.
Recovery is very fast: functional vision from the next day in the vast majority of cases. Full recovery takes 2 to 4 weeks (healing stabilizes, final glasses prescribed if needed).
Driving, reading and usual activities from Day 1 if your vision allows. Avoid rubbing your eyes, swimming pools and contact sports for 2–3 weeks.
Presbyopia after 45
Presbyopia usually begins between ages 40 and 45 and progresses until about age 55–60. It is a natural process caused by the loss of elasticity of the lens, which can no longer accommodate for near vision.
Two complementary approaches:
- PresbyLASIK: laser treatment of the cornea to create a multifocal profile. Best suited to patients between 45 and 55, whose natural lens is still clear.
- Refractive lens exchange (RLE, PRELEX): the natural lens is replaced with a multifocal/EDOF lens, as in cataract surgery but before a cataract develops. Suited to patients from age 55–60 or when a cataract is starting.
The choice depends on your age, your cornea, the clarity of your lens and your visual expectations.
PresbyLASIK creates a multifocal aspheric corneal profile that requires the brain to adapt. Before the procedure, I have you try contact lenses that simulate this profile for a few days. This lets you test, in real-life conditions, how well you tolerate this particular type of vision. It is a key step: if you are not comfortable with the trial lenses, we do not operate.
For everyday life (smartphone, computer, comfortable reading, driving): yes, in the vast majority of cases. For very fine tasks (prolonged reading of small print, precise sewing, or in dim light), supplementary glasses may still be useful, especially after 55.
No surgery perfectly reproduces the vision of a 20-year-old eye — but many patients forget about their glasses in daily life.
It all depends on your current lens. If you are 45–50 with a perfectly clear lens, PresbyLASIK is attractive because it is non-invasive. If a cataract is already starting (often around 55–60), it makes more sense to wait a few years and combine cataract surgery + presbyopia correction in a single procedure, with a premium lens.
This is exactly the conversation we will have during your consultation.
Eye conditions
Dry eye, glaucoma, keratoconus, corneal transplant, pterygium and more.
Dry eye disease has multiple causes. The most common are meibomian gland dysfunction (these glands produce the lipid layer of the tear film), screen use (reduced blinking), prolonged contact lens wear, certain medications, menopause or systemic diseases (Sjögren's syndrome, rosacea).
Treatment is stepwise and tailored: artificial tears, eyelid hygiene, cyclosporine, and now IPL for cases with meibomian gland dysfunction.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a pulsed-light treatment applied to the skin around the eyes. It works through 4 mechanisms: thermal unclogging of the meibomian glands, closure of telangiectatic blood vessels, an anti-Demodex effect (eyelash mites) and a neuromodulatory effect. The standard protocol is 4 sessions spaced a few weeks apart.
Yes, when eye drops are no longer enough to control intraocular pressure or when the disease progresses despite treatment. There are several options: SLT laser as first-line treatment, conventional filtering surgery (trabeculectomy, non-penetrating deep sclerectomy), or new-generation devices such as the Preserflo MicroShunt and the Paul implant, which I use in refractory glaucoma that has already been operated on.
Diagnosis is made with corneal topography (Anterion), which detects a conical deformation of the cornea even at an early stage. Warning signs include declining vision with progressive astigmatism, especially before age 30, and contact lens intolerance. Screening is systematic before any refractive surgery.
Much less than it used to be. Modern techniques are lamellar: only a thin layer of the cornea is transplanted (DMEK for the endothelium, DALK for the stroma), not its full thickness. These techniques greatly reduce the risk of rejection and speed up visual recovery. I personally perform these procedures (DMEK, DALK, penetrating keratoplasty).
A pterygium is a fibrovascular growth that extends from the conjunctiva onto the cornea, promoted by sun and wind exposure. When small, it is monitored. It is removed when it affects vision (corneal distortion, encroachment on the visual axis), causes persistent discomfort (redness, foreign-body sensation) or for cosmetic reasons.
The lens itself does not become cloudy. What is called a "secondary cataract" is the clouding of the posterior capsule of the natural lens, which is left in place during surgery (posterior capsule opacification). It occurs in 20–30% of patients in the years following surgery. Treatment is simple and painless: a YAG laser capsulotomy performed in the office, which takes 2 minutes and permanently restores vision.
Three distinct refractive errors:
- Myopia (nearsightedness): the eye is too long, the image forms in front of the retina → blurry distance vision
- Hyperopia (farsightedness): the eye is too short, the image forms behind the retina → constant focusing effort, blurry near vision first
- Astigmatism: irregularly shaped cornea (oval instead of round) → blurry vision at all distances, distorted images
These errors can be combined, and all can be corrected with refractive surgery depending on your profile.
Fees & reimbursement
The fees below are given for information only. A detailed, personalized quote is given to you after the pre-operative assessment. See also the Fees & reimbursement page.
Refractive surgery (laser or phakic lenses) is a procedure with freely set fees, not reimbursed by the French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie). Fees for both eyes:
- Trans-PRK: €2,600
- LASIK: €3,000
- SMILE: €3,000
- PresbyLASIK: €3,200
- ICL / IPCL phakic lenses: €5,500
These fees include the procedure, post-operative follow-up visits and any enhancement deemed medically necessary within the following year. Payment in installments may be offered — ask about it during your consultation.
Find full details on the Fees & reimbursement page.
No. Refractive surgery (LASIK, SMILE, PRK, PresbyLASIK, ICL) is considered a non-therapeutic procedure and is not covered by the French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie), whatever the refractive error.
However, some complementary health insurance plans (mutuelles — premium plans or vision plans) may reimburse all or part of the package. Check with your mutuelle using the quote you are given.
The surgical procedure is covered by the French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie) according to the CCAM fee schedule. The additional fees (extra fees above the Social Security rate, Sector 2):
- €500 per eye with a monofocal or toric lens
- €1,000 per eye with a premium lens (multifocal or EDOF), for independence from glasses — the extra cost of the premium lens is not reimbursed by Social Security
A detailed quote compliant with French regulations is given to you during the consultation.
Ask your complementary health insurer (mutuelle) for a coverage estimate by sending them the detailed quote I will give you. Some plans partially reimburse refractive surgery (usually as an annual "vision" allowance); others cover all or part of the extra fees for cataract surgery with a premium lens. Coverage levels vary widely from one plan to another.
Yes, always. For any scheduled procedure, I give you a detailed personal quote in line with the French code of medical ethics, stating: the nature of the procedure, the additional fees, the portion reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie (if applicable), and the terms of coverage.
Pre- & post-operative care
Depending on the procedure, the pre-operative assessment includes:
- Corneal topography (Anterion swept-source OCT)
- Pachymetry (corneal thickness)
- Aberrometry and biometry
- Tear film assessment and ocular surface evaluation
- Dilated fundus examination and macular OCT
- Tonometry and optic nerve examination
No blood tests are required in most cases.
To make pre-operative measurements reliable and let the cornea stabilize:
- Soft lenses: at least 7 days before surgery
- Rigid (RGP) lenses: at least 3 weeks before
- Ortho-K: 1 to 3 months before
For cataract surgery, lenses are usually stopped 48 hours to 1 week before, depending on the type of lens.
On the day of surgery: no — arrange for someone to accompany you.
- LASIK / SMILE: driving from Day 1 if vision is satisfactory (most cases)
- Trans-PRK: driving from Day 5 to Day 7, once vision has stabilized
- Cataract: driving from Day 1 or Day 2 depending on recovery
Indicative timeframes after refractive surgery (LASIK / SMILE):
- Screens: from Day 1, limiting screen time during the first week
- Gym, walking, cycling: Day 7
- Swimming pool, sauna, steam room: Day 15
- Contact sports (boxing, martial arts, rugby): Day 30 at the earliest
- Scuba diving: from Day 30, with specialist advice
For PRK, these timeframes are extended by about one week. After cataract surgery, avoid rubbing your eyes and swimming pools for 2–3 weeks.
You will receive a detailed prescription, usually including:
- An antibiotic for a few days (to prevent infection)
- An anti-inflammatory (corticosteroid), tapered over 2 to 4 weeks
- Preservative-free artificial tears for 1 to 3 months
The exact instructions are explained to each patient on leaving the operating room and repeated on the prescription.
Usual follow-up schedule:
- Day 1: immediate post-operative check
- Day 7 to Day 10: 2nd check
- 1 month: 3rd check, prescription adjusted if needed
- 3 months: final check, final glasses prescribed if needed
- 1 year: long-term stability check
For Trans-PRK, follow-up visits take place at Day 3 (removal of the bandage lens), Month 1 and Month 3.
These visits are included in the surgical package.
The OPHTALIFE practice
Cabinet OPHTALIFE
37 rue d'Aguesseau
92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
- Monday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sundays and public holidays: closed
The practice is very well served:
- Metro: line 10, Boulogne — Jean Jaurès station, a 5-minute walk
- Bus: lines 52, 175, 389
- RER C: Issy station, 15 minutes away
- Vélib' (bike share): several stations nearby
Several paid parking options nearby:
- Street parking (pay-and-display) in the surrounding streets
- Parking Indigo Boulogne — Hôtel de Ville, a 5-minute walk
- Parking Marcel Sembat
Yes, the practice is accessible to people with reduced mobility (elevator, step-free access, adapted examination rooms). If you have specific needs, please mention them when booking — the team will prepare for your visit.
Ask me directly
A specific medical question deserves a personalized answer. The simplest way is to book an appointment at the practice — or to call me directly.