Sasol In Society Report - Book - Page 105
Vision 20/20 eye
testing project in our
fenceline communities
Feature
Story
Restoring Dignity to our Communities
Many people would consider losing their
eyesight one of the worst losses they could
endure. While most of us will not suffer from
complete blindness, millions currently live
with some form of visual impairment.
This may result in depression, withdrawal and
inactivity. According to the National Eye Institute
(NEI), older adults represent most of the visually
impaired population. While vision loss later in life is
common, it can be particularly difficult for seniors
to accept and adapt to as other senses like hearing,
smell and taste also tend to weaken with age. Seniors
often worry that sight impairments will affect their
ability to live independently. Although eye diseases
like macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and
diabetic retinopathy can have a significant impact on
a senior’s functional abilities and quality of life, some
just require reading glasses to restore their ability to
function optimally.
To that end, Sasol partnered with St. John and the
Department of Health Free State to provide eye
testing and spectacles to senior citizens and people
living with disabilities in Deneysville and Oranjeville
communities. 510 patients were tested. 404 were
prescribed with single vision and bifocal spectacles
and 20 referred for medical procedures.
St John Ambulance has allocated a full-time
optometrist to the programme and provides all
optometry equipment. Sasol has funded and
donated a mobile eye clinic to the Department
of Health to help in reaching communities as part
of its primary health care strategy.
The first phase of the project targeted Sasolburg
and Zamdela areas where 676 people were
tested. Of these patients, 198 were provided
with single vision spectacles, 243 with bifocal
spectacles and 113 patients referred to the
Department of Health for eye procedures. 81%
of the people tested needed either spectacles
or referral for eye operations.
The second phase targeted Deneysville and
Oranjeville communities where 510 patients were
tested. Four hundred and four were prescribed
with single vision and bifocal spectacles and 20
referred for medical procedures.
The impact is the improved quality of life and
restoring dignity to the senior citizen and people
living with disabilities.
Because We Care!
SASOL IN SOCIETY 2023 105
