Playa del Carmen Launches Free Eyeglasses Program Across 291 Public Schools

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Mayor Estefanía Mercado announced the launch of Viendo al Futuro (Looking to the Future), a municipal program that will provide free eyeglasses to elementary and middle school students across Playa del Carmen.

The announcement was made at the Kukulkán primary school in the Real Ibiza subdivision, where officials said the program will reach 291 public schools in the municipality as part of the local government’s social policy.

“Sometimes we think a child is distracted in class, when what is really happening is that they cannot see the blackboard. And many girls and boys do not even know they could see better. That is why today we are launching the Viendo al Futuro program,” the mayor said, flanked by Rusbel Pat, secretary of Social Justice and Citizen Participation, and Félix Teh, director of Education.

Mercado said brigades will visit every public school in Playa del Carmen to screen basic-level students’ eyesight and hand out glasses at no cost to those who need them. She added that, according to one study, one in four school-age children may have vision problems.

“Imagine the joy of being able to read clearly what is written on the blackboard. That can change how a child feels every time they walk into their classroom. We want all our girls and boys to see well, learn better and dream big. Stay tuned, families! In Playa del Carmen we keep looking to the future,” she said.

As part of the launch event, students at the school received eye exams, and mothers were given cards for the municipal social program Salud sin tanto choro (Health Without the Runaround) directly.