Privacy Policy

Vision Care Optical Inc (registration 2020/110745/21) is an HPCSA-registered optometry practice operating from Mabopane Square and Central City Shopping Centre, Mabopane, Pretoria. For privacy enquiries contact our Information Officer at info@visioncareoptical.co.za.

• Identifying details: full name, ID/passport number where required, date of birth.
• Contact details: phone number, email address, residential or postal address.
• Clinical information: prescriptions, examination results, ocular and medical history, referral notes.
• Medical aid information: scheme name, membership and dependant numbers (where you choose to claim).
• Booking & communication data: appointment details, notes you submit, email and SMS correspondence.
• Website & technical data: IP address, device/browser metadata and cookies necessary for the site to function.

• To provide optometric care, issue prescriptions and dispense optical products.
• To manage appointments, reminders and patient communication.
• To submit medical-aid claims and process payments.
• To comply with our legal, regulatory and HPCSA obligations.
• To improve our services and maintain the security of our systems.

We process personal information under one or more of the lawful bases set out in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA): your consent, the performance of a contract with you, compliance with a legal obligation, the protection of a legitimate interest, or to pursue our legitimate interests in a balanced way.

We only share personal information where necessary, and with appropriate safeguards, with:

• Ophthalmologists and other healthcare practitioners you are referred to.
• Your medical-aid scheme and its administrators when you elect to claim.
• Optical laboratories that manufacture your lenses or contact lenses.
• Service providers that host our booking platform, email and IT systems under written agreements.
• Regulators, courts or law enforcement where required by law.

We do not sell your personal information and we do not share it for marketing by third parties.

Where our service providers store data outside South Africa, we ensure they are bound by privacy protections that are substantially similar to POPIA, or we obtain your consent.

Clinical records are kept for a minimum of six (6) years from the date of last consultation (longer for minors), in line with HPCSA guidelines and the National Health Act. Other records are kept only for as long as we have a lawful reason to retain them.

We apply reasonable, appropriate technical and organisational safeguards — including encrypted transmission, access controls and staff confidentiality undertakings — to protect your information from loss, damage and unauthorised access.

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or out-of-date information.
• Object to processing or withdraw consent (where consent is the basis).
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa): inforegulator.org.za.

To exercise any of these rights, email info@visioncareoptical.co.za.

Our website uses only the cookies and local storage strictly necessary to operate the booking and testimonial forms. We do not use third-party advertising or behavioural-tracking cookies.

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be highlighted at the top of this page along with an updated revision date.