Optometry Students Tackle Vision Loss at Research Day

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Discipline of Optometry hosted its Annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Senate Chambers on the Westville campus during World Sight Month.

External examiners praised the final-year students for delivering high-calibre research presentations covering a range of pertinent eye-care topics in an era marked by an alarming increase in vision loss.

Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan, academic leader of Optometry and senior lecturer at UKZN, said it had been a remarkable period for the Discipline, which recently received a R2.1 million Mobile Eye Clinic from the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT). The state-of-the-art vehicle is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools to conduct on-site eye screenings, comprehensive examinations, and provide corrective eyewear - thereby reducing preventable blindness and enhancing quality of life.

Supervised by Dr Ebrahim Khan and Ms Seyuri Bisetty, the study titled ‘The Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on Central Corneal Thickness’ was conducted at UKZN’s Westville campus from June to September 2025. The research, undertaken by Ms Anele Khawula, Ms Andile Makhanya, Ms Bridget Mmola, Ms Sanjana Moodley, Ms Gugulethu Mkhwanazi, and Ms Vally Raeesa, won both the Best Oral and Poster Presentation awards. Their findings confirmed that central corneal thickness varies significantly across menstrual cycle phases, peaking at ovulation and declining during menstruation and the luteal phase.

The students said: “Ethnic differences were also observed. These physiological and population-specific variations have clinical implications for refractive surgery and for glaucoma management, where intraocular pressure estimates may be affected. Accounting for these factors can improve the accuracy of ophthalmic assessments and surgical planning.”

According to the study: “Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle affect the eye in several ways, including changes in corneal hydration and tear production, which in turn impact corneal thickness and its biomechanics. Corneal thickness measurements are routinely used in clinical practice for procedures such as refractive surgery screening (e.g. LASIK, PRK), glaucoma diagnosis and management (as thickness can influence applanation tonometry readings), and contact lens fitting. Recognising cycle-related variations could improve the precision of diagnostics and treatment, thereby optimising patient care. Understanding the role of menstrual hormones in these variations is therefore imperative.”

A study exploring the link between keratoconus and inflammatory mediators in tears impressed the examiners, winning second prize in the poster category and tying for second place in the oral presentations. It shared the award with a study titled ‘Undergraduate Optometry Students’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Sustainable Healthcare’. Third place in the poster category went to ‘Screen Time and Refractive Error: A Longitudinal Evaluation’.

The examiners commended all eight groups for their excellent presentations. They wished the fourth-year students well for their upcoming final examinations and encouraged both them and the third-year students in attendance to continue pursuing impactful research focused on vision protection and the prevention of blindness - a lifelong endeavour.

In recent years, UKZN’s Optometry programme has undergone significant transformation in response to both national Higher Education imperatives and the expanding scope of professional practice. A vote of thanks to the examiners and organisers affirmed the Discipline’s commitment to education, research, and responsible community engagement.

Words and photographs: Lunga Memela