A champion of clear sight

While in grade 3, Megan Verreynne received her specs and was in awe because she could see clearly. She wants to give her patients that same feeling.
Octavia Tsibes
iagnose, treat, and manage disorders of the visual system, eye diseases and injuries.

Optometrists perform vision tests and analyse results, diagnose sight problems, such as near-sightedness or far-sightedness, eye diseases and glaucoma.

They also prescribe glasses, contact lenses and medication and provide treatments such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation.

Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery and treat eye disease, in addition to examining eyes and prescribing glasses and contact lenses.

The main responsibility is testing the health of the eye and the body because some sicknesses have a huge impact on the eye.

Optometrist Megan Verreynne enrolled for a four-year degree in Bloemfontein.

The first year is theoretical and focuses on the generalised health of the human body, while the third and fourth years is based on students going out to state hospitals (practical),

Verreynne finished her studies in 2016 and moved to Namibia. She was employed at Torga Optical in 2017.

Every day patients are asked about their overall health and what the problem is with their eyes. She further tests the patient’s eye health by performing the following tests:

Glaucoma test: A diagnostic test to measure the pressure in your eye;

Cover test: A simple procedure to determine how your eyes work together.

Refraction test: This determines the patient’s precise prescription.

Binocular slit-lamp examination: Verreynne looks at the structures in the front of the eye, such as eyelids, cornea and iris, then at the inside of the eye (the macula, retina, iris, etc.). This examination allows her to identify a wide range of potential eye diseases and conditions.

Dilation procedure: Special eye drops will be placed in the patient’s eyes. Once the patient’s pupils are sufficiently dilated, Verreynne will examine the inner structures of the eyes.

Once the exam is complete Verreynne reviews the patient’s results. If there are any potential problems, a follow-up exam will be scheduled or she refers the patient to a specialist.

If patient’s eyes are healthy and he/she just needs a prescription, they get to pick out new glass frames.

The optical team will work with the patient to find the right frames for the patient’s prescription and personal style. They will also work with you to get the proper fit and to understand your lens and coating options.

The reason why Verreynne is inspired to do this job is because when she was in grade 3 she could not see well and got spectacles. She was in awe when she received her specs because she could see clearly and she wants to give other people the same feeling she experienced.

· “Every day is highlight for me as I had a female patient whom I diagnosed with a swollen nerve. She came back to me after she was examined by an ophthalmologist, gave me hug and thanked me for detecting a problem with her nerve at an early stage,” Verreynne says.

What she mostly enjoys about her job is changing and bettering the vision of people. The health of the eye is very important to Verreynne. She says she could even give up one of her other senses if it were to save her eyesight.