The Welsh government is launching a three-month consultation on a proposed new initiative to provide eye tests and treatment for each child and young person in a special school.
Ophthalmic teams will provide the School Pupil Eye Care Service, which will be known as SPECS.
While visual impairment and blindness is relatively rare in children and young people, research by Cardiff University in 2012 showed a high proportion of pupils attending special schools have uncorrected refractive errors and some have previously unrecognised vision impairment.
There were 4,444 students in 39 special schools across Wales in 2014/15.
SPECS will be provided to pupils and students in the school setting during the school day. It will form part of the existing primary care Wales Eye Care Services. The Welsh government says the service will offer a comprehensive assessment when pupils first start special school and a regular sight test.
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