Gauteng expands eye care services as more than 17 000 residents receive spectacles

More than 17 000 Gauteng residents received spectacles through public healthcare facilities between April and August 2026 as the provincial health department expands access to eye care services.

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) said 17 347 patients received spectacles during the period, including 2 841 children.

The services form part of the department's Eye Care Awareness Month campaign, which runs from 23 September to 18 October, and include eye screening, vision testing, optometry and ophthalmology consultations, diagnosis and management of eye conditions, and the provision of spectacles and other optical assistive devices.

The province is also expanding access to sight-restoring surgery. More than 4 588 cataract surgeries were performed at public hospitals between April and August 2026.

According to the department, 14 hospitals currently provide cataract surgery, giving Gauteng the highest number of cataract surgery centres in South Africa.

The expanded capacity is intended to address surgical backlogs, restore sight and reduce avoidable blindness.

The department is encouraging residents to have regular eye examinations at least every two years, particularly people over the age of 40 and those living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

The start of the awareness month coincides with World Retina Week, from 23 to 29 September, which highlights retinal conditions that can cause vision loss, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and retinal detachment.

GDoH said early detection and timely intervention are critical in preventing avoidable vision loss.

Eye health activities will be rolled out across the province during October, including community-based screenings, school eye screening services for children with disabilities, health education and increased access to cataract and glaucoma surgery.

A key initiative will be the launch of diabetic retinopathy screening services at Tshwane District Hospital on 9 October. The department said the technology will help detect early signs of diabetes-related eye complications and support timely treatment.

The province will also officially open a new eye clinic at Jubilee District Hospital on 29 October. The state-of-the-art facility has been equipped with advanced eye care technology donated by Orbis Africa through its partnership with the GDoH.

The department said the expansion of eye care services is aimed at reducing preventable blindness, restoring sight and improving the quality of life of Gauteng residents.