Mission

To deliver far reaching and comprehensive eye care services, that promote awareness on blindness prevention initiatives, undertakes early detection vision screening, promotes innovative development training skills.  

Vision

Promote ocular and vision health, through innovative interventions for a future of hope. 

Purpose

To improve the quality of life of people by providing comprehensive eye care services, thus affording them the opportunity to develop further skills and contribute towards educational, sustainable, economic and social development.

Africa Focus

We are an Africa-wide non-profit development organization with an aim to reduce avoidable blindness and vision impairment caused by refractive errors and other eye deficiencies. We conduct research and provide child eye care programmes, paediatric human resource development and optometry service delivery through comprehensive eye health.

 

Our Values

The core values stated below underpin the ethical and professional manner in which we conduct our work, strive towards our purpose, and govern our operations.

Integrity

We consistently act with integrity, standing for what is right and just, and holding ourselves to the highest ethical standards. 

Honesty

We interact in an honest, fair and respectful manner with all those with whom we work, to accomplish our goals and strive for excellence.

Efficiency

We value the time of our clients, partners and suppliers, and seek to be efficient and considerate. 

Sustainability

We apply ourselves carefully to ensuring the stability of our organisation, communities and the environment. 

OUR FOUNDERS

The African Eye Institute is inspired by the vision of: 

Brien Holden 2
Professor Brien Holden

Described as "the most influential optometrist of our generation", the late Prof Holden has contributed significantly - through lecturing, research and innovation - to education, research, advocacy, social advocacy, social enterprise and humanitarian work in eye health, so that all brackets of society could access high quality, affordable eye health care. 

Kovin
Professor Kovin Naidoo

Prof Naidoo is a National Research Foundation B-rated researcher, educator and internationally celebrated public health leader who has has devoted his working life to reducing avoidable blindness and vision impairment, with special emphasis on refractive error. He has been revolutionizing access and delivery to eye care in Africa and for the globally disadvantaged.  

AEI Child
One School at a Time Logo with text

One School at a Time (OSaaT)

This initiative has seen thousands of underprivileged children benefitting from free vision screenings, spectacles and referrals to hospitals for further care. 

Almost 340 million children suffer from myopia (near-sightedness) making it one of the biggest global public health challenges. To address this the African Eye Institute (AEI) partnered with CooperVision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, and Peek Vision, to launch the One School at a Time (OSaaT) vision programme in September 2021, as part of the Berkeley Vision global campaign.

Why is OSaaT Important?

OSaaT is for school pupils in disadvantaged communities where eye healthcare is unaffordable and/or inaccessible. The AEI optometry team conducts eye screenings, provides referrals, and donates spectacles to children in need. By providing this service, children are given the gift of sight which helps with: 

·        Improved self-confidence

·        Better socialization

·        Enhanced safety in public spaces

·        Academic performance

·        Ability to perform daily activities

·        Future career prospects

The Rollout of OSaaT

The Pilot Phase of OSaaT was at 2 Umlazi schools in KwaZulu-Natal’s eThekwini District in September 2021. The success of this programme saw Phase 2 initiated at another 9 schools later that year, with Phase 3 running at a further 12 schools from March 2022 to October 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal.  

The launch of Phase 3 in March 2022 started with pupils and teachers at Nizam Road Primary in Merebank and Phila Combined School in Umlazi. There was much excitement when the team arrived as, for many of these children, this marked their very first vision screening experience. 

Commenting on the OSaaT program, Acting Head of Department of Nizam Road Primary, Sham Maistry said: “My heartfelt appreciation goes out to the wonderful AEI team and their program partners for a very worthy initiative. I have no doubt that better eyesight will improve the academic performance of our learners who are recipients of glasses.”

In 2023, OSaaT was extended into another three provinces in South Africa. Strategic partnerships with The Ruya Project brought OSaaT to Gauteng; with the Special Projects Foundation in East London to the Eastern Cape; and with Eye Save to schools in the Western Cape.

Funding from Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) secured by Berkeley Vision allowed for screenings at another 25 schools, bringing the number of schools that benefitted to 48 in one year.

Seven Hills Primary SH-818 Sphumelele Masiea Gr 5 14 June 2022 2
Seven Hills Primary SH-222 Isabella Naidoo Gr 5 14 JUne 2022
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