Eyeglasses and contact lenses for children

Eligible persons

All children are eligible for the program if they meet the following conditions:

• be under the age of 18 on the date of purchase (date of order) of eyeglasses or contact lenses
• be covered under the Health Insurance Plan
• have received a prescription for corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses during an eye examination conducted by an authorized optometrist or ophthalmologist
  Note: the eye examination is covered by health insurance for children under the age of 18. For more information, consult the page Optometric services.

How to obtain the reimbursement

You must apply online for your child to obtain a reimbursement by direct deposit or cheque.

By direct deposit

In the Services section of the Québec Health Booklet, you can apply for reimbursement and register for direct deposit at the same time. You will also have access to your history of reimbursements. You will need to log in using the Government Authentication Service.

Apply for a reimbursement in the Québec Health Booklet

By cheque

We will send your cheque by mail to the address on your RAMQ file. Inform us of any change of address.

Apply for a reimbursement by cheque

Information required

• Type of purchase (eyeglasses or contact lenses)
• Total amount of purchase
• Date of purchase (date of order)
• Merchant’s Québec Sales Tax (QST) number (10 digits, followed by the letters TQ and 4 digits)
  If this number does not appear on your invoice, you will need to obtain it from the optician or optometrist from whom you made your purchase.

For applications reimbursed by cheque, you must also provide the following information:

• Health Insurance Number or Social Insurance Number of the child
• Health Insurance Number or Social Insurance Number of the applicant
• Postal code of the applicant

Receipt of reimbursement

You will receive a reimbursement by direct deposit or cheque no later than 3 weeks after the application is submitted. Allow additional time for applications submitted by mail.

Conditions associated with the reimbursement

Place of purchase: To be eligible, purchases must be made from a Québec optician or optometrist, either online or in-store.

Eligible purchases: You can obtain a reimbursement for the purchase of eyeglasses (lenses and frame), the replacement of lenses (frame retention), the replacement of frame (lens retention) or the purchase of contact lenses.

Eligibility date for next application: You will have to wait 24 months before you can submit a new application for a given child. This period is calculated from the date of the last reimbursed purchase (date of order). For example, if you obtained a reimbursement for eyeglasses purchased on October 1, 2023, the next eligible purchase may be made as of October 1, 2025.

Deadline for submitting an application: You must submit your application within 12 months following the date of purchase (date of order).

Supporting documents: We may ask you for supporting documents should a verification be conducted following a reimbursement. Non-compliance may result in recovery of the amount of the reimbursement. It is therefore important for you to keep the following for 5 years:

• A copy of the prescription
• A copy of the eyeglasses or contact lenses invoice

The following information must appear on the invoice:

• The description and price of the eyeglasses or contact lenses
• The first and last names of the child for whom you purchased the eyeglasses or contact lenses
• The date of purchase (date of order)
• The name and address of the merchant from whom you made the purchase
• The merchant’s QST number (10 digits, followed by the letters TQ and 4 digits)

Send documents requested by RAMQ

If you have to send us supporting documents, you may do so via our online service Send a document to RAMQ or by mail:

Mieux voir pour réussir
C. P. 6600, succ. Terminus
Québec (Québec)  G1K 7T3

Please note that the documents you submitted will not be returned.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses that are not covered

• Eyeglasses and contact lenses purchased outside Québec
• Used eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Eyeglasses and contact lenses purchased without a prescription
• Eyeglasses and contact lenses without correction, including sunglasses
• Reading eyeglasses and magnifying eyeglasses for which no prescription is required found, for example, at pharmacies, department stores and corner stores
• Eyeglasses designed for taking part in sport or recreational activities such as swimming or skiing
• Blue light blocking eyeglasses for use with digital devices