An NGO has made it possible for second-hand frames to be reused with new lenses that suit the new patient’s prescription.

Kingdom Vision Foundation is an eye clinic situated at the Anchor of Hope facilities in Hamilton and operates two days a week for now, on Monday and Tuesday from 07:30 until 17:00.

Since the opening of this centre on Monday (6/5), fifty patients have been seen, tested by optometrists, and assisted with spectacles from second-hand donated frames. In 2023, the foundation decided to do outreaches at various public healthcare facilities and since then 850 patients have been provided with prescription glasses.

A patient being tested at the clinic's facility. Picture supplied

“When I investigated the need for optometric services in the Free State I was shocked to see how many patients are in desperate need of eye care due to the mismanagement in the public healthcare system,” said Kingdom Vision Foundation practice owner and optometrist, Franco Prinsloo.

“After a lot of research during the pandemic, I eventually registered the NGO as Kingdom Vision Foundation. The name comes from my faith in Jesus. As a Christian, I believe that God has a unique plan and calling on our lives and that whatever it is, it always comes down to investing in His Kingdom.

“The vision [in Kingdom Vision Foundation] has two meanings, it refers to physical sight but also to having a vision for a purposeful future,” said Prinsloo.

Donated second hand glasses. Picture supplied

“We test all patients for free. To qualify a patient must not belong to a medical aid and must require affordable eye care. After the test – should a patient enquire about spectacles – we ask for a minimal fee of R250 to give the patient a second-hand donated frame and new lenses, according to their prescription.

“Because of the challenges we encountered from working in a public health care site, we decided that the only sustainable way forward is to open up our facility where we can overcome these challenges and provide quality eye care to those who cannot afford it,” said Prinsloo.

The clinic works on appointments, but it prefers a first come first served basis. “We are limited in the amount of patients we can help per day, so once our max is reached we book appointments for the rest of the patients for a different day.”

Eye testing chart seen at the Kingdom Vision Foundation. Picture supplied

For people who have second-hand frames they would like to donate, the facility has a couple of drop-off points which include:

• Optic Edge LHP
• Optic Edge Dan Pienaar
• Doxa Deo Fichardtpark
• Doxa Deo Bloemfontein North
• They are also welcome to leave them with security at Anchor of Hope.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh