Buying Glasses in Germany: Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a pair of glasses in Germany can feel surprisingly complex, especially if you’re new to the country (thankfully, not as complex as getting LASIK in Germany)

And there’s a lot to navigate, from figuring out who can check your vision to understanding what your insurance will pay for.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn:

• How to book an eye exam
• When to see a doctor vs. an optician
• Where to buy glasses (and which options are best for your budget)
• What different insurance plans cover
• How to save money the next time you buy glasses

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to get the right pair of glasses in Germany, without paying more than you need to.

How to buy eyeglasses in Germany

Buying glasses in Germany involves key steps: checking your vision, selecting your frames, paying for the final product, etc.

Here’s precisely how to buy glasses in Germany, step by step.

1. Schedule an eye exam: Optician vs. Ophthalmologist

The first step is checking your eyes, which means choosing the right professional. 

You have two options:

Websites like Doctolib and Jameda allow you to search by language, city, and specialty. 

Learn more about how to find an English-speaking doctor in Germany.

If you’re paying yourself, expect to pay €15–€100 depending on where you go:

• Opticians typically charge €15–€40 for a basic vision test to determine your prescription.
• Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) may charge €50–€100, mainly if the exam includes medical diagnostics or advanced imaging.

Does insurance cover eye tests?

Eye exams in Germany can be covered by insurance, but whether they are covered depends on your insurance type and the reason for your visit. 

Here’s the details on how it works:

With public health insurance

If you’re covered by statutory public insurance (like AOK, TK, Barmer), vision tests for medical reasons are generally covered.

That means, if the eye exam is necessary due to medical necessity (e.g., vision deterioration, symptoms of glaucoma, diabetic eye complications, or other diseases), it is reimbursed.

Generally, children under 18 often have eye exams covered as part of pediatric screenings.

With private health insurance

If you’re insured through private health insurance, eye test coverage is more common, but it still depends on your specific plan.

For example, at Feather, you’re covered for all eye exams with an ophthalmologist. 

Other companies may reimburse the full cost of an annual eye exam, while others may only cover part of it or apply a deductible. With the best private health insurance companies, you’re also covered for eye exams at the optician on most plans, as long as that exam doesn’t cost more than €50.

Check your contract or call your insurer. They can let you know the details of your plan.

2. Get your prescription

Once your eye exam is done, you’ll receive a prescription for glasses (Brillenrezept in German).

It includes:

• SPH (Spherical): measures nearsightedness or farsightedness
• CYL (Cylindrical) and AXIS: correct astigmatism, if present
• PD (Pupillary Distance): distance between your pupils for accurate lens placement

You can use it at any optician or online provider in Germany (and often abroad). Most opticians recommend updating it every 1–2 years for accuracy.

Ask for a digital and paper copy. It makes comparing offers from multiple providers easier.

3. Choose where to buy your eyeglasses

Next, decide where to buy your glasses. 

Your choice affects not just the price but also the level of service and speed:

• Local opticians offer personalized service, custom fittings, and expert guidance. They’re ideal if you want help choosing or adjusting your glasses. Expect higher prices but excellent care.
• Online shops (like Brille24) offer affordability and convenience. You can usually enter your prescription and choose frames from a catalog.
• Chains like Fielmann or Apollo combine the two: they’re affordable and fast, with locations across Germany.

Hybrid options combine the best of both worlds. For example, Mister Spex lets you:

1. Order online,
2. Try on frames at a partner store,
3. Pick up or return them in person.

4. Pick your frames and lenses

Once you’ve chosen a provider, it’s time to customize your glasses. You can customize the lens type, material, coatings, and extras. 

For the lens type, you either choose a single vision lens to correct one field of vision (near or far), or a progressive/multifocal lens for multiple distances.

When it comes to materials, you can usually choose:

• Plastic (CR-39): affordable and lightweight.
• Polycarbonate: impact-resistant and good for kids or active users.
• High-index: thinner and lighter for strong prescriptions.

Finally, for coatings and extras, you may want to consider:

• Anti-reflective coating to reduce glare for screens and night driving.
• Blue light filters to help with digital eye strain.
• Scratch-resistant coatings to increase durability.

5. Pay and receive your glasses

Once you’ve picked your eyeglasses, it’s time to pay and wait for delivery.

Typically, you’ll pay with a debit/credit card, though some shops may allow invoicing.

Delivery of standard lenses should take 3–5 business days, and for custom or multifocal lenses, up to 10 business days.

Before you place your order, review the return and exchange policy. Each store has its rules, and you don’t want surprises later. 

Still, EU consumer protection laws give you 14 days to return products ordered online, even prescription glasses (as long as they’re in resellable condition).

6. Get reimbursed

Depending on your health insurance, you could get part of your eyeglasses reimbursed.

Public insurancecovers glasses only for those with very poor vision and children under 18.

Private insurance often offers broader benefits, but coverage varies widely by plan. You typically pay upfront and submit a claim with your invoice and prescription afterward.

Want to know the details? We break it down below.

Does public health insurance cover glasses and contact lenses?

Public health insurance offers minimal coverage for eyeglasses and contact lenses alike. 

Whether you qualify (and how much is reimbursed) depends on specific medical criteria, not personal preferences or general vision needs.

Who qualifies for reimbursement with public health insurance?

Only certain groups are eligible for reimbursement for glasses or contact lenses:

• Children and adolescents under 18 automatically qualify.
• Adults with severely impaired vision, typically starting at ±6 diopters of spherical correction or more than 4 diopters of astigmatism.
• For specific medical conditions, such as eye injuries, corneal irregularities, or post-surgery vision support.

How much is reimbursed?

Even when you qualify, coverage is limited:

• TK and other public health insurance companies will only cover the cost of the basic version of your chosen lens.
• Frames are not reimbursed.
• Extras like anti-glare coatings, blue light filters, thinner lenses, or tints are not covered.

How do I get reimbursed?

To receive reimbursement, make sure to:

1. Get a prescription from an ophthalmologist that confirms your eligibility.
2. Visit an optician to receive a cost estimate or quote.
3. Submit the prescription and quote to your insurance before purchasing the glasses. This ensures you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be covered for.

Does private health insurance cover glasses and contact lenses?

Private health insurance tends to offer broader benefits for visual aids, but the details depend entirely on your plan.

Most private policies cover a certain amount for glasses, which resets every 2 years. Feather’s budget is between €150 and €400 every two years.

If your prescription worsens by 0.5 diopters or more in either eye, you can usually “reset” this budget earlier than two years.

Important: Try to use the full allowance in one go. Many insurers only reset the 2-year timer once the full limit has been used.

How to get reimbursed

To claim reimbursement for glasses with private health insurance, prepare:

• Your prescription from an ophthalmologist or optician
• The invoice from your optician or online provider
• A form, if your insurer requires it

Then, you can upload all these documents via your insurer’s claim portal.

How to save money when buying glasses

Whether or not you qualify for reimbursement, there are many ways to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

1. Compare prices

Prices for the same frames or lenses vary widely between local opticians, chain stores, and online shops.

Use tools like Idealo.de to find the best price for specific frames or Mister Spex to compare in-house brands vs. designer models.

Buying online is often 30–50% cheaper, especially if you’re flexible on style.

2. Buy generic

Prioritize function over fashion: Going generic can cut your eyewear bill by three (or more). 

Designer brands significantly increase the price, sometimes without adding durability or function.

Instead, choose store-brand or private-label frames. Try to stick with basic plastic lenses, unless you really want extras like anti-glare or thinner profiles.

3. Get a free eye exam

If there’s a medical reason (eye disease risk, diabetes, or sudden vision changes), your public insurance will cover an exam with an ophthalmologist.

Some opticians will also offer a complimentary eye exam when purchasing a pair from their store. 

4. Use tax deductions or insurance reimbursements

Vision-related expenses (glasses, exams) are tax-deductible as extraordinary expenses (außergewöhnliche Belastungen).

Check with a tax advisor or use online tax tools to see if you can claim your eyewear costs.

5. Take advantage of sales

Retailers offer discounts during Black Friday, January/summer clearances, and back-to-school promotions.

Signing up for newsletters from Mister Spex, Fielmann, or Apollo can unlock promo codes or early-bird sales access.

6. Consider vision insurance

If you wear glasses regularly, a vision insurance add-on may be worth it. It’s a low-cost supplement to statutory or private health insurance, and we’ll explore how it works next.

Vision insurance in Germany: Is it worth it?

If you’re publicly insured in Germany and wear glasses regularly, you may have come across supplementary vision insurance. 

This add-on is available only to members of the public health system, as private insurance plans usually already include vision coverage. 

But is it worth paying a bit more each month for better benefits? 

Here’s what you need to know.

What it covers (and doesn’t)

Most vision insurance policies cover:

• Prescription lenses, including upgrades like thinner material or coatings
• Frames, up to a fixed amount (usually around €100 to €200)

Some limitations include:

• A cap on reimbursements: a set budget reset every two years.
• Restrictions on frequency: reimbursement may only apply if your prescription changes significantly (e.g., by 0.5 diopters).

Pros and cons

When to consider it

Supplementary vision insurance makes sense if:

• You have children who frequently need new glasses
• You have a strong or unstable prescription, which makes buying glasses more expensive or frequent.
• You want to budget for regular replacements or upgraded lenses.

Use comparison tools like Check24 or Verivox to find a plan that matches your needs and budget.

Conclusion

Let’s recap some of our tips:

1. Before you buy, double-check what your insurance covers:  vision benefits can vary more than you think.
2. Keep all your receipts and prescriptions if you need to file a claim or make changes later.
3. Don’t settle for the first option: compare providers based on price, service, and return policies.