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undreds of students lined up to wait their turn during eye examinations held at SDN Batan Indah, Serpong, South Tangerang, on Monday.

The program, which was held by jamu (herbal drink) maker PT Sidomuncul, the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (Perdami) and the South Tangerang Education Agency, was aimed at examining the eyes of at least 300 students from low-income families in the school. Students who were diagnosed with eye disorders would get free corrective lenses.

Corrective lenses are considered expensive and of secondary importance by families with low incomes, therefore many underprivileged students were not adequately supported.

'€œI will be able to read properly with glasses,'€ a student, Vidi, said while waiting for his turn.

Meanwhile, Pramita, parent of a student at the school, acknowledged that the free eye examinations were helpful for parents with low incomes like her.

'€œWe have to work our socks off to make ends meet. I don'€™t have the money to take my children and have their eyes examined or to buy glasses,'€ said the Cilenggang resident.

However, despite its initial purpose of targeting underprivileged students, the free eye examination program also attracted students from middle-class families.

'€œWhile it'€™s free, why not include my daughter to be examined?'€ said Selly, 36, the mother of student Annisah.

Selly argued that even though she could pay for glasses, her family still considered an eye examination by an eye specialist at the hospital to be expensive. She also added that she had never had her daughter'€™s eyes examined before because her daughter never complained about her eyes.

South Tangerang Education Agency head Mathodah pointed out that more than 6,000 students in South Tangerang came from families with low incomes and needed support.

'€œThe [South Tangerang] administration has allocated a budget to help underprivileged students, but we don'€™t have an extra budget for things like reading glasses,'€ he said.

The prices of glasses given to the students for free were priced between Rp 200,000 (US$16.44) and Rp 500,000.

Mathodah said he hoped the number of beneficiaries of the program would increase in the future.

Sidomuncul spokesperson Nanik R. Sugiarto said that the program also aimed to raise parents'€™ awareness of the importance of examining children'€™s eyes as early as possible.

'€œUsually, parents, particularly those with low incomes, take the matter for granted and pay attention to the children'€™s eyes only when there are complaints,'€ she said, adding that the company picked a school in South Tangerang because of its notorious pollution and its high rate of poverty.