Deidré de Jongh

Deidré de Jongh (B.Optom SA; MC.Optom UK; CAS USA)

Deidré obtained her B.Optom degree at RAU in 1987 and joined an optometric practice where she practiced in the field of Vision Development.

She started her own Optometric practice in 1990 in Pretoria, South Africa.

In 1996 she completed her post-graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS USA) in Ocular Disease and Pharmaceutical Application.

In 2001 she completed her MC.Optom degree at the London College of Optometry in the UK. She practiced as a Consulting Optometrist in North Yorkshire, UK until 2004.

She further completed her Certificate of Advanced Studies in Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents at the New England College of Optometry (USA) in 2005.

In 2005-2007 she served as the Vice-Chairperson of the Professional Board of Optometry and Dispensing Opticians, HPCSA.

She served the South African Optometric Association (SAOA) from 1998 until 2011.

Her positions included, SAOA Representative on the South African Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness Committee; Director of Community Eyecare; Director of Private Practice and Vice-President.

Her most notable position being president of the South African Optometric Association 2009-2011.
During her long-standing career, she applied her multi-faceted expertise to treat patients with complex visual disorders using cutting edge technology in her private practice in Pretoria, South Africa.

Further to her clinical expertise she also acted as an External Examiner for the University of the Free State and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Following her mother’s traumatic brain injury and neuro-degenerative complications in 2009, Deidré developed a personal and vested interest in understanding and managing the disruption and effect of traumatic brain injuries specifically pertaining to the visual system.

Her lifelong exposure to the management of binocular visual disorders stood her in good stead to formally expand her expertise, specifically in the field of visual disruption following brain injury and neuro-degenerative disease.

In 2016 she registered in the fellowship programme of the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association in the USA.

She established Eyemind, a Neuro-Vision Rehabilitation Centre, in 2017.

She keenly speaks and educates on the visual disruption following concussion, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and neuro-degenerative disease.