Barraquer Foundation and ONCE join forces for eye health

05/01/2026

The Barraquer Foundation, the ONCE Foundation and the FOBV are promoting a joint project to guarantee free eye care for children in vulnerable situations across six autonomous communities in Spain.

Joining forces for a common cause

The Barraquer Foundation, the ONCE Foundation and the ONCE Low Vision Foundation (FOBV) have joined forces to guarantee access to quality eye care for children in vulnerable situations. This collaboration agreement represents a step forward in building a more equitable society, where proximity, solidarity and social commitment bring institutions together with a shared goal: to ensure that no child is left behind for economic or social reasons.

The partnership, born out of a shared desire to improve visual and social well-being, will enable the nationwide campaign "Every Gaze Deserves a Clear Future" to take place between January and June 2026, guaranteeing optometric and ophthalmological examinations for around 300 children selected by the FOBV. With the technical and professional support of the Barraquer Foundation, the project ensures concrete actions that help reduce inequalities and promote independence: direct, specialised and free care for the families who need it most.

Screening sessions that transform lives: proximity and real impact

The commitment is supported by a €29,000 contribution from the ONCE Foundation, allocated entirely to funding the six screening sessions, led by the Barraquer Foundation, which will take place in Catalonia, Madrid, the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia, Andalusia and the Canary Islands. Each session will be held at an ONCE centre in the corresponding region and will provide care for around 50 children.

As the organisation responsible for providing healthcare, and to ensure the highest quality of care, the Barraquer Foundation will coordinate the professional teams, made up of volunteer optometrists from General Optica, based in each region, and specialist ophthalmologists from the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre, who will take responsibility for cases requiring clinical follow-up or other interventions. In addition, both the provision of prescription glasses and any ophthalmological procedures at the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre resulting from the examinations will be covered by the ONCE Foundation's contribution, thus guaranteeing comprehensive care at no cost to families.

Commitment and values that make a difference

This project demonstrates how collaboration between organisations can generate a real social impact. On behalf of the Barraquer Foundation, Professor Rafael I. Barraquer highlights that the early detection of vision problems is key to preventing learning difficulties or difficulties with independence, demonstrating that eye health is an essential pillar of well-being.

Based in Barcelona, the Barraquer Foundation has been working for years to make eye care accessible to all and link medical excellence with social impact. Its charitable work combines training, prevention and care to support vulnerable groups, demonstrating that cooperation is the best tool for reducing inequalities, with proximity at the heart of this transformation.

Through this initiative, the Barraquer Foundation reaffirms its mission to transform medical knowledge into social action.