University of KwaZulu-Natal optometry students appeal for help

A NEW fundraising initiative aims to assist the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) optometry students in the purchase of expensive learning materials, to the value of R30 000 per student. The kit is essential for the completion of the students’ education.

The equipment is not covered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) which 60% of the student body relies on, according to Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan, Academic Leader at the UKZN Optometry Department.

What do the students say?

Lindon Mathe

The kit is essential as our course is technical and we do a lot of practical work.  It is better to have your own kit because you get to use it and practise outside of school times. It will help us and UKZN produce quality future optometrists who are competent.

Minenhle Dube

Our degree is practical-based, and without equipment, it is very hard. If have your own equipment, it allows for sufficient practice, then you can practise anytime, anywhere. I would be able to go back to my own community and practise by checking peoples’ eyes. I am from a rural area, and people are not well educated about how important it is to take care of their eyes.

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Sthabile Mthembu

The kit is very important since everything in our course is practical. It is more important when we go to hospitals and other practices, where we must have our own equipment. The school doesn’t have enough equipment for all the students. It is better to have your own kit to practise the techniques at home. Then you can be perfect and get good marks, as you would learn everything while practising instead of practising only once at the clinic.

Siphesihle Thabethe

This fundraising will help us get the essential equipment that we cannot afford by ourselves as it is not covered by NSFAS. It will not only help us but also those who do optometry after us. They won’t need to worry about the equipment, which might make them choose another course that does not need expensive equipment. Donations will help coming undergraduates choose what they want and love.

The kit is important since, with most of the techniques we use, we need to have this kit. Having this kit will help you practise and sharpen your skills whenever you want to, without borrowing someone else’s equipment.

Nontando Khali

As university students from various socio-economic backgrounds, some of us cannot afford to purchase optometry equipment for thousands. We receive funding from NSFAS, but it doesn’t cover the equipment. As these optometry kits are fundamental components of optometry and will be utilised throughout our lives, our fundraising will let students like us participate in school activities successfully.

The optometry kit is significant because we utilise it during practicals on campus premises and in external clinics or sites. The study of optometry involves both theory and practice.

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Without a trial frame, it is impossible to help the patient. This is placed in front of the patient’s eyes, like a pair of eyeglasses, and has lenses inserted to determine the patient’s prescription. Trial cases with trial lenses are used in a trial-and-error process using several prescriptions of eyewear to determine the best prescription. An ophthalmoscope aids in the identification of potential anomalies located in the back of the eye. If the patient has astigmatism, a Jackson cross-cylinder is employed. We also use a Snellen chart, PD ruler, penlight torch, etc. Large machines are additional equipment the institution offers. It is clear how important these instruments are. The kit is essential to our ability to work; it’s a basic need.

Enquiries:

Sagren Govender – govendersg@ukzn.ac.za; Naima Ebrahim – ebrahimn@ukzn.ac.za OR 031 260 7495/082 319 7786