The medical director of IMO Grup Miranza Barcelona offers us this headline in ARA: "We have advanced solutions to say goodbye to glasses". Before continuing to read that it refers to the treatment of myopia, cataracts and all kinds of boomer conditions, I smile sarcastically. My fifty best friends and I have a few solutions to say "goodbye" to glasses:

Starting this Wednesday, people can apply for government assistance to buy glasses and contact lenses. announced more than a year agoThis Tuesday, the Ministry of Health detailed that, under the so-called "Veo Plan," subsidies of up to €100 will be available for minors under 16 to purchase glasses and contact lenses until December 31, 2026. The Minister of Health, Mónica García, stated that this project is one of the government's "most ambitious." According to the Ministry, the subsidies should cover the cost of essential optical products, such as basic frames with organic prescription lenses with anti-reflective coating, or contact lenses and maintenance solutions for one year. However, to access the Plan Veo will require a prescription for the visual aid system Depending on the child's age and circumstances, the appropriate authority will issue the prescription. For children aged 5 or younger who are accessing the plan for the first time, a prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist at an ophthalmology service within the National Health System or the private sector will be required. For children aged six or older, a prescription from an optometrist at a participating healthcare facility may also be required. Finally, for those accessing the plan for the second time, a review performed by any of these professionals will suffice, provided that 365 days have passed since the previous review. Up to 30% of students have vision problems.

The Ministry of Health has noted that refractive errors (such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) affect between 10 and 30 percent of the school-age population in Spain, with prevalence rates on the rise, especially in contexts of intensive screen use and indoor living. "Without proper correction, these problems not only affect children's physical well-being, but also their academic performance, psychosocial development, and quality of life," the ministry emphasized in a statement, describing the measure as "exceptional" and reiterating that it "responds to a public health need" and the desire to reduce the number of refractive errors.

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There's a Chinese proverb attributed to Confucius that says, "When the wise man points at the moon, the fool stares at the finger." And if there were ever a case that perfectly illustrated this saying, it's Pedro Sánchez's glasses. A seemingly trivial detail that has garnered more attention than the political event itself. The "moon," in this case, would be the Prime Minister's appearance: an intervention from which we've learned almost nothing, in a committee that seems more like a showcase for each party to scrape together votes with empty, tweet-like speeches. Between evasive statements and studied gestures, what has truly stuck in many people's minds is an accessory: his glasses. Who would have thought that a pair of frames could overshadow politics?

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"A child's ability to see the classroom blackboard clearly cannot depend on their family's pocketbook." With this statement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced this Monday a measure that the Ministry of Health had already announced six months ago: Financing part of the cost of glasses and contact lenses for all children under 16 who need them.

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