The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has launched a R2.5m mobile optometry clinic in partnership with the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT). The clinic aims to provide comprehensive eye examinations, assess eye health, and manufacture spectacles on site. This initiative seeks to address the gap in eye care services for people living far from urban areas. The mobile clinic is equipped to diagnose vision problems and provide solutions immediately.
According to Prof Nabeela Hasrod Gany, head of UJ's department of optometry, the project is about more than just diagnosing people with vision problems. The goal is to close the loop between diagnosis and immediate treatment by bringing clinicians, equipment, and a spectacle lab to communities. This approach enables the identification of problems and provision of spectacles where possible, right in the community.
The need for accessible eye care is significant, with at least 2.2 billion people worldwide living with near or distance vision impairment. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that at least 1 billion cases could have been prevented or remain unaddressed. In low-income countries, two out of every three people who need spectacles do not have access to them.
UJ's department of optometry has been taking eye-care services into communities through its outreach programme. In 2025, the department conducted 53 outreach initiatives, examined about 5,520 patients, and provided 1,038 pairs of spectacles free of charge. These numbers represent more than just statistics, with each number signifying a person whose life can be impacted by clear vision.
The mobile clinic has a spectacle-cutting laboratory, allowing lenses to be edged and glazed on site. This means patients can potentially have their eyes examined, receive a prescription, and have their spectacles made and dispensed during the same outreach visit. This approach changes how UJ reaches patients, making healthcare more accessible.
The clinic is expected to be particularly useful for people whose uncorrected vision affects their education, employment, independence, and quality of life. Globally, vision impairment is associated with an estimated US$411 billion in productivity losses each year. The model is proposed to be replicated nationally and expanded into other areas of community development.
The clinic's first community deployment will be in Cosmo City during World Sight Day in October. It will provide eye examinations and spectacle services directly to residents while also giving UJ optometry students an opportunity to gain practical experience outside the university. The initiative combines teaching, community engagement, and social impact while taking healthcare services beyond UJ's campuses.
Key points
- The University of Johannesburg launches a R2.5m mobile optometry clinic to provide eye care services to communities.
- The mobile clinic aims to address the gap in eye care services for people living far from urban areas.
- The initiative combines teaching, community engagement, and social impact while taking healthcare services beyond UJ's campuses.
