Optometry educator develops new eye test
An optometry lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has developed a novel eye test which is designed specifically for South African children.
DOCTOR Ebrahim Khan is a passionate optometry educator at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). In addition to teaching young students the skills of their chosen profession, the Westville lecturer has developed a revolutionary visual assessment system for children.
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Khan says, “The focus of my PhD and post-doc research is to develop a paediatric vision screener that can be used on a computer. The advantage is that children think they are playing a game, but their vision is being tested while they do it.”
Current visual screening protocols
Challenges have arisen with current testing systems in that some of the targets are not familiar to rural residents. The traditional method of visual testing incorporates visual testing with charts.
The optometry lecturer says, “We use paediatric visual charts, and kids that are being tested in rural areas sometimes don’t identify with these targets. For example, children in rural areas will not recognise a picture of a ship. They can see the target but can’t identify a ship as seen, because they’ve never been to the coast.”
Khan came up with a novel idea to solve the problem.
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She says, “I incorporated South African targets after I approached the Department of Education and looked at the material they teach with. I used commonly recurring symbols like livestock and butterflies. I developed new targets which are pertinent for our kids, and which South African children can easily identify.”
The Bona system
The screening system is available in both English and isiZulu on a digital platform and can be administered by anyone. The tester could be any healthcare professional or even a teacher, as specialised optometry skills are not necessary to run the programme.
Khan has named her screening system Bona. The name means ‘to see’ in isiZulu but also stands for Basic Oceular Ngane Assessment.
The personal journey
Dr Ebrahim Khan has always been passionate about the visual health sciences and education. Although she wanted to study medicine after leaving school, with optometry as her second choice, the lecturer has no regrets about her current discipline.
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“I don’t regret it as I wanted to be an ophthalmologist, so I remained in the same field. I was the first person to attend university in my family. My parents didn’t have the opportunity to study, but they made it their goal for their three children to have a tertiary education. I’ve carried that forward with my own family and have always impressed on my children the importance of education. We say that learning is from the cradle to the grave,” says Khan.
“I wrote up my PhD with my infant son sitting on my lap because I wanted to complete my degree so badly. So yes, I’ve got the doctor title now, and I’m not an ophthalmologist, however, I love what I do, and I love teaching my students,” she says.
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