Ophthalmological revisions against vulnerability in childhood

The Invulnerables with Vision initiative, within the framework of the CaixaProinfancia program of the La Caixa Foundation and the Invulnerables project, was launched in 2018 and aims to ensure the visual health of children, and also to promote their well-being and development. Since then, various ophthalmological examination days have been held in reference centers in Catalonia, six of them at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, where nearly 900 evaluations have been carried out. Between 35 and 40% of the minors evaluated in the 2021-2025 period required optical correction.

In a day recently held at the Hospital Clínic, children from Banyoles (38), Lleida (36), Manresa (28), Ripoll (23), Figueres (14) and Lloret (9) participated. The examinations were carried out by a team led by the head of the Ophthalmology Service, Bernardo Sánchez Dalmau, along with 8 ophthalmology specialists and 11 optometrists. The general director of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Josep Maria Campistol; the promoter of the Invulnerables project, Sister Lucía Caram; the head of CSR at Natural Optics Group, Ana de Beascoa; and the director of Natural Optics Ribes, Àngel Martínez, attended the day.

After the examinations, the Natural Optics Group team provided glasses to all the minors who needed them, who were able to choose from about fifty models. The associated center Natural Optics Ribes also participated in this day, collaborating in the accompaniment and care of the minors during the action, together with the Convent de Santa Clara Foundation and the Francisco de Asís Space, collaborating entities of the CaixaProinfancia program of the La Caixa Foundation in the Invulnerables project, as well as the CaixaBank Volunteers Association.

Children's visual health

Specialists warn that excessive use of screens, both in the school and leisure environments, can lead to the deterioration of children's visual health. Prolonged exposure to digital devices at early ages affects the quality of vision and increases the incidence of myopia, visual fatigue, and other eye pathologies. Given this situation, they emphasize the need to promote prevention and awareness measures in the family and educational spheres.

The Ophthalmology Service of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona reminds that vision develops during the first years of life, so it recommends performing a first check-up around four years of age and repeating it annually, even in the absence of symptoms. Specialists warn that many minors are not aware of their visual problems, which can affect their school performance, self-esteem, and social relationships.

According to data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 25% of the school population could present undetected visual problems, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or amblyopia, and it is stressed that the correction of these disorders can have a significant impact on the daily lives of minors.

Invulnerables: an alliance to break the cycle of child poverty

The Invulnerables project is an initiative against child poverty promoted by Sister Lucía Caram and the La Caixa Foundation through the CaixaProinfancia program. This program, active since 2007, acts where inequality hits hardest, providing educational reinforcement services, leisure and free time activities, psychosocial support, and family support. All of this is developed through a wide network of social entities and in coordination with public services.

Since the Invulnerables project was launched 7 years ago, it has served 2,427 families and a total of 4,412 children

In the last year, CaixaProinfancia has supported nearly 67,000 children and adolescents in vulnerable situations throughout Spain, offering them educational, social, and family support so that the lack of resources does not limit their opportunities. Within the framework of CaixaProinfancia, the Invulnerables project is implemented in 14 municipalities, where 14 work networks have been formed hand in hand with local administrations and 40 social entities.

The project is present in the territories where the Generalitat's indicators show a greater impact of child poverty: Manresa, Manlleu, El Vendrell, Tortosa, Lleida (neighborhoods of La Mariola, Secà de Sant Pere, Balàfia and Pardinyes), Salt, Figueres, Lloret de Mar, Banyoles, Ripoll, Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Campdevànol, Ribes de Fresser and Camprodon. Since the Invulnerables project was launched 7 years ago, 2,427 families and a total of 4,412 children have been assisted.