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.
Pupils, their parents and carers will have the choice to have the spectacles fitted and dispensed at school.
When a student leaves special school they will receive a “vision passport”, which details their visual needs. This will help to ensure they remain in the care of eye care services into adulthood.
Unveiling his vision for the future collaboration between health practitioners and schools, health and social services minister, Mark Drakeford, said: “Preventing avoidable sight loss and the early identification of sight problems starts in childhood, but for children and young people with learning disabilities there is evidence of barriers to accessing eye care and high unmet need.
“I very much look forward to hearing people’s views about our plans for the SPECS service.
“The service will ensure all pupils and students attending special schools in Wales have access to ophthalmic services, making the right support available at the right time and in the right place for our most vulnerable learners.”