There is a growing expectation that universities do more than teach. Increasingly, they are being asked to translate expertise into services that are relevant, accessible and sustainable.
At UWI St Augustine, that expectation is taking practical shape within the Optometry Unit. The recent launch of the UWI Optical Store reflects a broader shift towards aligning academic training with real-world application, in line with the university’s push through initiatives such as UWI MADE to connect education with enterprise.
Within the UWI Optometry Clinic, faculty and students consistently encountered patients who required corrective eyewear but struggled to access affordable options after diagnosis. The gap between identifying a problem and resolving it was becoming increasingly clear.
“We observed that several of our patients who are currently in the UWI Optometric Clinic do not have access to affordable eye care and spectacles,” explained Dr Kingsley Ekemiri, Head of the Optometry Unit. “So, it was on that note that we decided to set up the UWI Optical to meet this gap and this need.”
That decision reframed the unit’s role. Rather than stopping at diagnosis and training, it began building a system that carries patients through the full continuum of care.
At its core, the Optometry Unit remains a teaching and clinical environment.
The UWI Optometry Clinic provides comprehensive eye examinations, including vision testing, prescription assessments, dry eye treatment, myopia control and screening for common eye conditions. Students are trained through direct patient interaction under supervision, developing both clinical competence and professional judgement.
The introduction of the Optical Store extends that training into application.
Patients diagnosed within the clinic can now transition directly into the next stage of care—obtaining corrective eyewear—within the same system. The model removes a key barrier that many patients face after diagnosis: access.
At the same time, the service is not limited to the university.
“The UWI Optical Store is open to everyone,” Dr Ekemiri noted, emphasising its accessibility to students, staff and the wider public. Patients may also bring prescriptions from external providers, including the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), reinforcing the unit’s role within the national eye care ecosystem. In a landscape with established private providers, the unit is clear about its position.
It does not see itself as competing with optical stores. Instead, it operates as a centre of excellence—training professionals, supporting smaller outlets, and strengthening overall capacity within the sector. This includes, over time, the potential to provide technical support such as lens fitting and fabrication to operators who may not have the infrastructure to do so independently.
The emphasis is not on market share, but on system support.
The development of the Optical Store and the broader expansion of the unit’s work required careful planning, institutional co-ordination, and sustained commitment.
As Head of the Optometry Unit, Dr Ekemiri served as the key implementor of the initiative, leading it from the development of the initial business proposal through the planning, co-ordination and operational steps that culminated in the official launch of the UWI Optical Store on February 25, 2026.
He also acknowledged the important support received from senior colleagues throughout the process. He noted the valuable guidance of Professor Ezenwanka Chidum and Emeritus Professor Patrick Akpaka, whose advice encouraged a thoughtful, patient, and solutions-oriented approach as the initiative moved from concept to implementation.
At the departmental level, leadership also played a decisive role. Dr Ravi Maharaj, Head of the Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, provided strategic direction and support at key decision points, helping to create an enabling environment for innovation to move forward.
Beyond its immediate impact, the initiative is being designed for long-term sustainability.
Dr Ekemiri outlined a multi-layered approach combining revenue-generating services, cost management, and integration with academic programmes. Partnerships with local and international organisations are also being explored, alongside opportunities for expansion. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are being built into the system to ensure it remains both financially viable and academically relevant.
The next phase will deepen that integration.
Plans are underway to establish a dispensing laboratory, allowing lenses to be fabricated and fitted on site. This will improve turnaround times, expand service capacity, and provide additional technical training for students.
Looking ahead, the unit is also exploring a specialised academic programme in optical dispensing, aimed at strengthening expertise in lens fabrication and fitting across the region.
For Dr Ekemiri, the long-term vision extends beyond the campus.
The aim is not only to produce clinically competent graduates, but to develop professionals who understand how to operate within and contribute to the systems that support healthcare delivery. Alongside this, the unit continues to emphasise proactive eye care, encouraging regular examinations for early detection, and simple habits such as managing screen time, maintaining lens hygiene, and protecting the eyes from UV exposure.
What is emerging within the Optometry Unit is not simply an expansion of services, but a shift in how impact is defined. Training is no longer confined to the classroom or clinic. It is being extended into systems that close gaps, strengthen industries, and create lasting value.
And in that shift, the Optometry Unit is doing more than delivering care—it is building the system that sustains it.
For more information on the Optometry Unit, visit sta.uwi.edu/fms/optometry. For updates on the UWI Optical Store, visit www.instagram.com/uwi_optical/
