With the price of prescription glasses out of reach for many South Australians doing it tough, 160 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness have turned to a community clinic led by Flinders University optometry students for essential optometry services over the past year.
The Optometry Clinic is located at Baptist Care SA’s WestCare Centre and enables people from all walks of life to access bulk-billed examinations and prescription glasses. High-quality glasses are provided to patients at no cost through donations from lens and frame suppliers and are organised through Flinders University Optometry.
Patients are supplied with spectacles, if required, and students provide the optometric eye exams under the supervision of a senior optometrist, including assessments of vision, refractive error and ocular health, with a focus on cataracts, glaucoma, macular disease and diabetic retinopathy.
The community clinic is celebrating its first year of providing vital comprehensive and high-quality eyecare services today thanks to a partnership between Baptist Care SA, Flinders Health2Go, and Sight For All, a not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a world where everyone can see.
Optometry student Mr Hamish Gleeson said he developed an appreciation of how a free eyecare service can drastically change the lives of those in need while completing placement at the clinic.
“It was a rewarding experience assisting those who were unable to see clearly when they first walked into the clinic, and then resolving this issue with a brand-new pair of glasses that ultimately put a smile on their faces,” he said.
“It was fantastic to be involved in such a great community at Baptist Care SA, and I will always reflect on the time I spent there as I further my optometry career.”
The clinic is designed to address individual needs and deliver hands-on quality care to help restore, maintain, and promote optimal eye health. Sight For All and industry suppliers have equipped the clinic, allowing for ancillary testing and imaging to be completed on site, ensuring patients receive end to end service and eliminating additional barriers to care.
Streamlined referrals for advanced treatments are also provided for patients through partnerships with the Royal Adelaide Hospital Ophthalmology Department.
Lecturer in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr Jose Estevez, said the clinic benefits both the community and Flinders students because it fills an important gap in the healthcare system by ensuring timely treatment while enabling students to gain hands on experience in a unique clinical setting.
“The Baptist Care SA Health and Wellbeing Project has provided timely eye health services at its Westcare Centre to help marginalised community members in South Australia,” Estevez said.
“It’s also enabled Flinders University students enrolled in the Master of Optometry program to provide the full breadth of comprehensive eyecare services as part of their clinical training in partnership with Baptist Care SA.”
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