In accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
Last Updated: 10 April 2025
At Davida van der Merwe Optometrist, your privacy and the protection of your personal information are of the utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa.
By using this website and/or providing your personal information to our practice, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
We may collect and process the following types of personal information from patients and website users:
Full name
Contact details (email address, phone number, physical address)
ID or passport number (where required for medical aid or legal documentation)
Medical history and eye health records
Appointment details and consultation notes
Payment and billing information
Website usage data (via cookies and analytics tools)
Personal information is collected through various secure methods, including:
Appointment bookings (online, telephonic or in person)
Consultation forms and patient intake documents
Contact forms on our website
Email or WhatsApp communications
Medical aid authorisations
Voluntarily submitted information (such as during surveys or promotions)
We collect your personal data for the following lawful purposes:
To provide professional optometric services and manage your treatment plan
To contact you regarding appointments, reminders, follow-ups or eye health updates
To submit claims to medical aids or insurers (where applicable)
To process payments and issue invoices
To maintain accurate medical and legal records
To improve the user experience on our website
To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
By engaging with our practice or submitting your information via our website, you provide explicit consent for us to process your personal information.
Under POPIA, you have the right to:
Access your personal information
Request correction or deletion of your information
Withdraw your consent at any time (unless required by law to retain it)
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if your data rights are violated
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this policy.
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal data from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access. These include:
Secure filing systems for hard-copy patient files
Password-protected digital systems and practice management software
Physical security for practice premises
Limited internal access to sensitive information
Your data will not be stored longer than necessary, unless required by law or medical practice guidelines.
We do not sell or distribute your personal information to third parties. We may, however, share information with:
Medical aid providers for claims and authorisations
Laboratories and suppliers for lens or frame orders
Referring or treating specialists (only with your consent)
Service providers such as IT support or website hosting (under strict confidentiality)
Any third party we work with is also obligated to comply with POPIA regulations.
Our website may use cookies or tracking technologies to improve your experience. These technologies collect basic usage data such as your browser type, pages visited, and time spent on the site. You can disable cookies via your browser settings.
We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be published on this page, and the “Last Updated” date will be revised accordingly.
For any queries, requests, or complaints related to your personal information, please contact:
Davida van der Merwe Optometrist
30 Victoria Road, Hutten Heights, Newcastle, 2940
Email: admin@davision.co.za
Phone: +27 (0) 34 312 4602 or 067 226 9213
If unresolved, you may also contact the Information Regulator (South Africa):
Website: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
Monday – Friday 09:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday 09:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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