Government Officially Announces €100 Aid for Children's Glasses
New universal measure will benefit over 700,000 minors starting next school year
The Government has officially announced direct aid of up to 100 euros for the purchase of glasses or contact lenses for minors under 16 with vision problems. The measure, funded with 48 million euros, will begin to be implemented next school year without income restrictions and will benefit more than 700,000 minors in Spain.
President Pedro Sánchez announced the launch of the "Plan Veo" (Vision Plan) yesterday during a presentation held at the headquarters of the General Council of Colleges of Opticians-Optometrists. The initiative responds to the situation of approximately 721,000 Spanish minors who need glasses or contact lenses but cannot access them for economic reasons.
Health Minister Mónica García has backed the measure, emphasizing "the importance of integrating visual health into public policies for child welfare". The plan seeks to correct existing inequalities and ensure that no minor sees their education limited by being unable to afford essential optical products.
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System Without Bureaucratic Procedures
The functioning of Plan Veo eliminates administrative barriers for Spanish families. The €100 aid will be applied as a direct discount at the time of purchase through transfers to participating colleges of opticians-optometrists, preventing parents from having to advance the amount or carry out subsequent procedures.
The requirements for access are minimal: the minor must be under 16 years old and have a valid optical prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The measure will be universal and homogeneous throughout the national territory, without conditions based on family income level or autonomous community of residence.
Scope and Social Impact
The initiative represents a significant investment in children's visual health, with a budget allocation of 48 million euros aimed at correcting inequalities in access to basic optical products. The universal nature of the measure ensures that families of different socioeconomic levels can benefit equally.
The measure takes on special relevance in the educational context, where adequate visual correction is fundamental for the academic performance of minors. Specialized studies confirm that uncorrected vision problems can generate significant difficulties in learning and school development.
Implementation Timeline
Plan Veo will come into effect with the start of the next school year, coinciding with the period of highest demand for children's optical products. Colleges of opticians-optometrists throughout Spain will begin applying discounts from September, facilitating access to aid just when families are preparing school materials.
The Government has established this strategic calendar to maximize the impact of the measure at the time of greatest need by families, thus optimizing the effectiveness of public investment.
Comprehensive Child Welfare Policy
The initiative is framed within a broader strategy of public policies oriented toward the welfare of minors, where visual health is considered a key element for integral development. As Sánchez declared during the presentation: "Whether a child can see the blackboard well cannot depend on their family's wallet".
The measure joins other family support initiatives implemented in recent years, consolidating a governmental approach toward eliminating economic barriers in basic services for the child population.
Families will be able to obtain detailed information about the program's functioning at optical establishments once the measure comes into effect next September.