Lithuanian parents reminded: You may not need to pay for children's eyeglass lenses

The State Patients Fund (VLK) in Lithuania is reminding parents that children under the age of 7 are eligible for reimbursed eyeglass lenses funded by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (PSDF), irrespective of their vision sharpness. This means parents can seek reimbursement even if a child's vision impairment is not yet severe, provided an ophthalmologist deems corrective eyewear necessary.

Early identification of vision issues is critical for a child's development. "Young children don't always say they see poorly. They might squint, sit closer to the screen, avoid small tasks, or complain of headaches more often. We urge parents to pay attention to changes in their child's behavior, observe closely, and not delay vision checks," stated Giedrius Baranauskas, head of the VLK's Medical Devices Reimbursement Division.

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Young children don't always say they see poorly. They might squint, sit closer to the screen, avoid small tasks, or complain of headaches more often. We urge parents to pay attention to changes in their child's behavior, observe closely, and not delay vision checks.

Baranauskas emphasized that glasses are more than just a visual aid; proper correction can significantly impact a child's development, learning, safety, and self-confidence. Under the current regulations, all children under 7 can have 70% of the base price of eyeglass lenses reimbursed. If an ophthalmologist diagnoses a more severe visual impairment, where the better-seeing eye's visual acuity with full correction does not exceed 0.5, the entire base price of the lenses is covered.

Since the expanded reimbursement policy began in April 2024, thousands of families have utilized this benefit. VLK data shows that 2,278 children under 7 received reimbursed lenses in 2025 and an additional 1,166 in 2026. To obtain reimbursed lenses, parents should first consult their family doctor, who can issue a referral for an ophthalmologist. If the eye doctor prescribes corrective lenses, they will issue an electronic prescription, allowing parents to visit an optical shop contracted with the health fund.

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If the eye doctor determines the child has a vision disorder and decides that reimbursed eyeglass lenses are necessary, they will issue an electronic prescription, with which parents can contact one of the optical shops contracted with the health fund.