The impact of spectacle correction in the well-being of children with vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error, featured in a study by Dr Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy, who is an honorary lecturer at UKZN and the Executive Director of the Global Ophthalmic Institute.
Govender-Poonsamy, who graduated with a PhD in Optometry during UKZN’s Spring Graduation ceremony, was supervised by Professor Percy Mashige, Professor Ving Fai Chan and Professor Kovin Naidoo.
Reflecting on the milestone, Govender-Poonsamy said: ‘It is a moment of both personal and professional pride. I am eager to contribute to the field of optometry, particularly by addressing eye care challenges in under-resourced communities. I aspire to continue my work in research and policy, advocating for better access to eye care services and improving vision screening programmes.’
Her research revealed that visual impairment conditions in children, are often overlooked. Govender-Poonsamy emphasised that these conditions have a profound impact on children’s academic performance, social interactions, and mental health. The study highlighted the need for broader criteria for interventions in school vision screening programmes which would significantly improve children’s quality of life.
‘This research has direct implications for developing policies that promote early identification and management of vision impairment and child eye health conditions, ensuring children’s overall development,’ she noted.
Govender-Poonsamy’s research is groundbreaking in its approach to assessing children’s vision needs. It expands the criteria beyond the traditional focus on severe cases affecting both eyes. Her work paves the way for more inclusive eye care interventions by considering less obvious yet equally significant vision impairments in either eye, as well as conditions that don’t directly impair vision but still affect overall eye health.Her decision to focus on this area was influenced by her decade-long experience working at the Brien Holden Vision Institute.
The research process was not without its difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed her work by almost two years, and accessing rural schools for data collection posed logistical challenges. However, through perseverance and support from her family, research team and the Department of Basic Education, Govender-Poonsamy was able to complete the study successfully.
She praised the enriching academic environment at UKZN where she says she received guidance from esteemed colleagues in Optometry and multidisciplinary perspectives from the Psychology Department.
Born and raised in Chatsworth, Durban, her passion for Optometry was inspired by her family’s health care background. She now hopes to build on her research to influence health policies and advocate for improved school-based vision screening programmes across South Africa and globally.
When she’s not working, Govender-Poonsamy enjoys singing devotional Indian music, which provided comfort during her research journey.
Words: Nombuso Dlamini
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini