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Ministry Funded Services - Subsidy for glasses and vision tests for children 15 years and under

What does the subsidy include?
The Spectacles Subsidy can help with the costs of your child’s:

vision test
glasses (frames and lenses or repairs) or eye patches.
The most that can be paid is usually $281.25 (including GST).
The optometrist or ophthalmologist will fill out a form with your help, and send it with their bill to Enable New Zealand. You will need to pay any balance.
The subsidy is available again after 12 months, if needed, for each child in your family who can get the subsidy.
For more information, call Enable New Zealand on 0800 17 1981.

Who can the Spectacles Subsidy

Any of your children, aged 15 or under,
BUT ONLY IF you or your child has a current Community Services Card or a High Use Health Card.

If you can’t get the subsidy talk to your optometrist, doctor or school about other help that may be available.

Other options may include:

recoverable loans from Work and Income,
support from local community groups.

How to get help for your child
Make an appointment for your child’s vision to be tested by an optometrist or ophthalmologist OR at the hospital.

Optometrists or ophthalmologists

Check the Yellow Pages to choose a local optometrist.
The front section of your phone book has numbers for ophthalmologists.
When you make the appointment, check whether the optometrist or ophthalmologist can apply for the subsidy.
Check the cost of the vision test as this is included as part of the subsidy.

Hospital appointments

You may be able to get your child’s vision tested at your local hospital. The number for the hospital is in the front of your phone book.
There may be a waiting list for an appointment.

If your child needs glasses you will still need to go to an optometrist or dispensing optician to get these. You cannot get glasses from the hospital.

More help from the Ministry of Health

An additional $50.00 (including GST) is available for children who need adult size frames.
You may be able to get this help to pay for glasses or repairs if your child’s vision is changing very quickly or if he or she has amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (squint).
Talk to your local optometrist for more information about this extra funding.

If at any time you have urgent concerns about your child’s vision or eyes, see your doctor, optometrist or go to your local hospital.

For more information

Freephone: 0800 17 1981
Email: enable@enable.co.nz
Web: www.weka.net.nz

Hard copies will be available from Enable New Zealand by emailing info@enable.co.nz or calling 0800 17 1981

Copies of the Glasses Subsidy Factsheet (in PDF format) can be downloaded in the following languages:

English (PDF, 242 KB)
Māori (PDF, 173 KB)
Cook Island Māori (PDF, 147 KB)
Samoan (PDF, 167 KB)
Tongan (PDF, 190 KB)

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Page last updated 31 August 2009