First-grade students to receive free eye tests.
 
Vision problems in children affect many aspects of intellectual development, including language learning, interaction with people, and social skills. 
 
The symptoms, which usually emerge when kids reach the age of 1.5 to four, may be hard to detect because young children may not be aware of their vision problems. 
 
The common signs that may indicate vision problems include; frequent eye rubbing or blinking, short attention span, and complaints of discomfort and fatigue.
 
Thus, access to eye tests can help parents and teachers identify children’s vision problems and provide them with glasses, which will help them learn and develop skills as normal children. 
 
“We are aware that vision problems can silently disturb child learning and development,” said Dr Jakkrit Ngowsiri, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) overseeing the UCS. 
 
“We include eye tests and free glasses in the benefits package of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), which cover the healthcare fees for every Thai child since birth.”
 
In principle, the NHSO wants to support schools and hospitals in providing free eye tests to every child aged three to 12. 
 
But, in practice, it is impossible at the moment because of the limited number of ophthalmologists found in only 200 out of 38,000 health units across Thailand.
 
Currently, the NHSO has prioritized providing free eye tests to first-grade students or around 700,000 kids. They will get free glasses once the tests confirm their vision problems. Teachers and parents of children in other grades can directly request free eye tests and glasses at state hospitals.  
 
“The NHSO has set up the committee for the ophthalmology service plan, which coordinates with relevant government offices and organizations to run eye tests at schools. It has also monitored the outcomes, including the coverage of vision screening tests and children’s access to glasses.,” said Dr Jakkrit.
 
“Eye tests are part of the NHSO’s health promotion and disease prevention program that aims for keeping people healthy.”
 
The Ministry of Education has encouraged students to get tests while putting teachers in vision screening training, allowing them to provide students with eye tests and identify vision problems’ symptoms.   
 
On the other hand, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand and the Public Health Ministry’s Metta Eye Center have provided know-how and training to health personnel — ophthalmologists, optometrists, and nurses — who must provide services to children. 
 
Local Administrative Organizations under the Ministry of Interior have covered the travel cost of parents and children with vision problems when they need to visit hospitals for eye tests and get glasses. 
 
Around 245,150 students, or 32% of first-grade students, had eye tests in 2021. About 6,200 or 2.5% of them were diagnosed with vision problems, and 2,929 received glasses.  
 
This year, the NHSO set a target to offer eye tests to 80% of first-grade students, or around 600,000 children. About 3% of them will likely have vision problems. 
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