Sight is priceless

The patients who will receive the surgery were referred to the Sandhurst Eye Centre by a number of optometrists around Johannesburg. Optometrist and marketing manager Thivasha Reddy said the initiative began with the Eye Centre sending through specific criteria to a variety of optometrists. The optometrists screened their patients throughout the year and sent the contact details to the Sandhurst Eye Centre. The information was then forwarded to the doctors who then assessed the patients and scheduled a time in October for them to undergo surgery. The surgery involves removing the cataract from the eye and replacing it with a new intra ocular lens provided by companies Alcon and Genop.

She said, “The patients are usually indigent, and some of the criteria involves the patients being a South African citizen, having a specific minimum income, their vision is 6-36 or worse and they have no medical aid.”

Reddy added, “We do the operation for the patient and the post-operation check-ups. We do their worst eye and the following year we are prepared to do the other as well.”

Dr Bryan van Onselen said, “This initiative is a way to alleviate the burden on the state because there are so many people who need cataract surgery.”

Eight doctors at the Eye Centre will undertake the cataract surgeries. Van Onselen added that the surgery will make a great difference in the patients’ lives as they will be able to work and do daily tasks, “By removing the cataract and replacing it with a new lens it not only gives them visual freedom, but also gives them the ability to work and find work.”