PhilHealth offers free prescription glasses for children 0-15 years old
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — PhilHealth now offers an annual Optometry Benefit Package up to P2,500 each patient for children aged zero to 15 years old.
PhilHealth Caraga Reachout Officer Jerome C. Bajao shared the coverage to over 100 information officers (IO) from the municipalities and barangays in Dinagat Islands during the Provincial IO Conference on July 23.
“The Optometry Benefit Package includes comprehensive vision assessments, prescription eyeglasses with standard frames and lenses, and follow-up consultations once a year to ensure proper fitting and comfort,” Bajao said.
“This package was created as a result of PhilHealth’s collaboration with the Department of Education to help address the pressing concern of children who cannot read well because of vision challenges,” he added.
Strengthening the healthcare agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, PhilHealth issued Circular No. 2025-0002, prescribing children zero-15 years old to undergo visual assessment from any of PhilHealth’s YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) providers, schools handling visual screening and other state health insurer’s accredited facilities. They are then referred to PhilHealth-accredited optical clinics to avail of the optometric package, including free prescription glasses.
Bajao told IOs that the island province has no accredited optical clinic. However, he said that parents of qualified children may visit accredited optical clinics located in other provinces in Caraga. As of July 31, 2026, the region has six accredited optical clinics. Dano Optical Clinic in Surigao City is the most proximate to the Dinagatnons.
He is also optimistic that this facility will soon be available in Dinagat Islands, especially with the ongoing expansion on accessibility of healthcare services in the province.
Meanwhile, August is being observed as Sight Saving Month with this year’s theme, ‘See Clearly, Live Fully.’
According to the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, Sight Saving Month is officially rooted in Proclamation No. 40, signed by President Ramon Magsaysay on July 5, 1954, which originally declared the first week of August as Sight-Conservation Week. Over time, this evolved into a month-long nationwide campaign to promote eye health and prevent blindness.
The observance aims to increase public awareness on eye health and blindness prevention, promote regular eye check-ups and vision screening, strengthen the early detection and timely management of common eye conditions, and mobilize stakeholders to improve access to quality eye care services. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands / Photo courtesy: Dinagat Islands PIO)