University of Johannesburg launches mobile optometry clinic — TimesLIVE

In South Africa, the University of Johannesburg, together with the South African Muslim charitable foundation, has launched a mobile optometry clinic worth R2.5 million. It will provide comprehensive eye examinations, assess eye health and make glasses directly on site for people living far from eye care facilities.

As TimesLIVE reports, the university officially launched the fully equipped clinic on Monday. It has a laboratory for making glasses, so patients may potentially undergo an examination, receive a prescription and collect ready-made glasses during a single visit.

Support for communities

Nabila Hasrod Gani, head of the University of Johannesburg's optometry department, said that making a diagnosis is not enough without access to a solution. According to her, the project is intended to bring specialists, equipment and a laboratory for making glasses to communities.

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According to the World Health Organization, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have near- or distance-vision impairment. At least 1 billion of these cases could have been prevented or remain without proper care. The WHO also estimates that in low-income countries, two out of three people who need glasses do not have access to them.

Practical training for students

In 2025, the university's optometry department held 53 outreach events, examined about 5,520 patients and provided 1,038 pairs of glasses free of charge. University vice-chancellor and principal Letlhokwa Mpedi noted that the new clinic will allow the university to travel to patients rather than wait for them to reach the campus.

The mobile clinic's first trip is scheduled for Cosmo City in October, during World Sight Day. Vision examination and glasses-making services will be provided there, while optometry students will be able to gain practical experience working outside the university.