UKZN Optometry

Vision
Our vision is to provide quality, relevant, vision and eye health education programmes
Mission and goals:

• To establish and maintain high standards of optometric education & training.
• To ensure that the programmes offered produce graduates with knowledge, skills and competencies that are both locally relevant and internationally competitive.
• To apply the core principles of transformation in discipline activities, programmes and action plans.
• To engage in strategic community partnerships towards the integration of social accountability into the entire programme.
• To produce high quality and essential national eye health research that contributes towards the elimination of avoidable blindness and promotes an improved quality of life of the communities our graduates are mandated to serve.
• To be at the forefront of cutting edge eye care technological advancements and new information generation.
• To produce graduates with the core values and ethical standards needed to serve individuals and communities equitability with compassion, respect and competence.

Acts pertaining to the profession of optometry

1. The following acts are hereby specified as acts which shall for the purposes of the Act be deemed to be acts pertaining to the profession of optometry: (1)  The performance of eye examinations on patients with the specific purpose of detecting visual errors in order  to provide clear, comfortable and effective vision;

(2)    the correction of errors of refraction and related factors by the provision of spectacles and/or lenses and/or spectacle frames and/or contact lenses and/or the maintenance thereof, or by any means other than surgical procedures;
(3)    the use of scheduled substance which is approved by the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians and the Medicines Control Council and subject to the –
(a)            conditions determined by the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians and the Medicines Control Council;
(b)            provisions of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, 1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965); and
(c)            person practising the profession of optometry being in possession of a permit issued in terms of section 22A (12) of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, (Act No. 101 of 1965), to acquire, possess and use the specified Schedule 1, Schedule 2, Schedule 3 or Schedule 4 substances for diagnosis purposes.
 

Low Vision / Sub-normal Vision:
a) Assessment of provision of Low vision devices to patients whose vision cannot be improved with spectacles, contact lenses, medication or surgery.
b) Aids provided include : Magnifiers, Telemicroscopes, Microscopes, Loupe magnifiers, Mobility devices, etc.
Paediatric Optometry / Children’s Vision:
a) Specialised techniques and tests for children including objective VA assessments, Objective refraction techniques, Perceptual skills assessment, etc.
Binocular Vision / Orthoptic Clinic:
a) Orthoptic training, eg. :
i) Anti-suppression therapy
ii) Accommodation therapy
iii) Convergence therapy
iv) Occlusion therapy, etc.
Contact Lens Assessment:
a) Keratoconic fitting
b) Soft lens fitting
c) Rigid lens fitting
General Clinic Assessment:
a) Vision testing & Dispensing of spectacles
Visual Fields:

a) Automated Visual Field Analysis
Colour Vision Assessment:
a) Farnsworth Munsell D15 and 100 Hue
Corneal Topography:

a) Assessment of corneal curvature.
Tonometry:
a) Intra-ocular pressures (Glaucoma screening).