'Urban insight’: is eye care neglect the exception or the rule?

Angela Mathee; Ansunel de la Rey; Andre Swart; Sophie Plagerson; Nisha Naicker

doi:10.7196/SAMJ.8100

Forum

'Urban insight’: is eye care neglect the exception or the rule?

Angela Mathee, Ansunel de la Rey, Andre Swart, Sophie Plagerson, Nisha Naicker

Abstract

Findings from an urban community optometry clinic in a poor area of Johannesburg, South Africa (SA), highlighted a high level of undiagnosed need, raising questions concerning access to and availability of eye-care services in SA. It is imperative that we understand vision as a requisite for poverty alleviation, and the need for a public health approach to service delivery.

Authors' affiliations

Angela Mathee, Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council; Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Ansunel de la Rey, Department of Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Andre Swart, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Sophie Plagerson, Centre for Social Development in Africa, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Nisha Naicker, Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa