Brazilian municipalities provide free eye exams and glasses to public school students

The municipal governments of Parauapebas (Pará) and Resende (Rio de Janeiro) have launched programs that offer free eye examinations and glasses to children attending public schools. In Parauapebas, the local health and education secretariats, under the federal Program Saúde na Escola, screened 952 students in May and plan to distribute 308 pairs of glasses during the first semester.

Resende’s initiative, called “Ver e Viver,” was carried out in partnership with the ArcelorMittal Foundation and provided consultations, visual acuity tests and ophthalmologic exams to about 380 schoolchildren over two days, with around 200 glasses to be produced and delivered. Both projects aim to improve students' visual health, enhance learning conditions, and reduce barriers for families unable to afford corrective lenses.