Thanks to a project by the African Eye Institute, the elderly at Huis Ravenzicht in Kraaifontein had their eyes tested with the promise of better eyesight in future.
Thanks to a project by the African Eye Institute, the elderly at Huis Ravenzicht in Kraaifontein had their eyes tested with the promise of better eyesight in future.
Help African Eye Institute provide eye-health services directly to the elderly.
“The institute aims to bring eye-health services to the elderly in care homes for visual impairment in residential facilities,” said spokesperson Razia Sampson. “We provide free vision screening, donations of spectacles and referrals for further care, and other eye-care prevention awareness.
“Vision impairment that mostly impacts those over 50 years old can have a variety of adversities, such as reduced function, social isolation, depression and falls.”
By age 65, according to the institute, one in every three individuals has a form of vision-reducing eye disease, which more than doubles the risk of falls.
Problems include refractive errors that cause near-sightedness, far-sightedness, astigmatism, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, poor depth perception, loss of peripheral vision, slower adjustment to lighting changes, and diabetic retinopathy. Avoidable blindness is also common among the elderly.
“Early intervention and treatment can prevent certain eye defects, with spectacles making a massive difference,” said Sampson.
“Unfortunately, there are barriers to accessing eye-care services, particularly in poorer communities. These include transport challenges, treatment costs, fear and a lack of information and available services. Yet good vision enables a better quality of life through participation in social activities and promoting independence. Since September last year we received funds that enabled the institute to visit eight old-age homes in Cape Town and complete vision screening and comprehensive eye tests for a total of 484 residents.
One of the residents at the home, Maria du Toit, who is a 100 years old, was overjoyed with the visit to assist her with her current eye conditions.
“Maria still moves about unassisted and is looking forward to us returning with her new spectacles,” said Sampson.
