Welcome to the Department of Ophthalmology

Restoring sight. Advancing care. Serving communities.

At the University of the Free State (UFS), the Department of Ophthalmology is dedicated to protecting that window and preserving the gift of sight through excellence in clinical care, training, research, and community outreach. Founded in 1970 and established as an independent department in 1976, our department has grown into a respected centre for eye health in Southern Africa. Our history reflects a commitment to evolving with modern ophthalmology while maintaining a strong patient-centred ethos. For more than five decades, we have combined compassion with clinical precision to deliver world-class eye care to the Free State and beyond.

 Community-Focused Eye Care
Our department boasts three satellite units in QwaQwa (Monapo Hospital), Kroonstad (Boitomelo Hospital), and Welkom (Bongani Hospital), each staffed by dedicated medical officers providing essential primary eye care services. These units perform approximately 500 cataract operations per year, significantly reducing cataract backlogs in the Free State and South Africa. Through partnerships with the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, the department also supports cataract surgery outreach programmes across the province and occasionally in other regions.

Setting Our Sight on International Outreach and Impact

The Department of Ophthalmology extends its reach beyond national borders. Since 2001, the department has conducted annual outreach programmes in Vila Ulongue, Mozambique, offering screening clinics and cataract surgery in underserved communities with limited access to ophthalmological services. Strong collaborations with Lesotho further enhance regional eye care, including specialist posterior segment work, laser training, and cataract tours. These initiatives reflect our belief that quality vision care is a global responsibility.

Shaping the Next Generation of Ophthalmological Visionaries

Education is central to the department’s mission and purpose:

• Undergraduate MBChB students complete an intensive eight-week module in Ophthalmology and Primary Eye Care, developing practical skills in examination, diagnosis, and management of eye conditions.
• Our department is also responsible for training of undergraduate Occupational Therapy and Optometry students in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the coordination of undergraduate programmes in Ophthalmology.
• At postgraduate level, we provide registrar training for specialisation in Ophthalmology, CME courses across medical disciplines, and alignment with the South African College of Ophthalmology for professional advancement.

Leadership and Professional Development
The highly trained and experienced staff of our department are nationally and internationally recognised educators and examiners, having trained surgeons and specialists practicing across the world. Consultants and registrars are regularly exposed and encouraged to national and international congresses, ensuring that clinical practice at UFS remains aligned with global standards. Participation in societies such as OSSA, SASCRS, SAGS, SAVRS, and SASOPS strengthens professional collaboration and innovation.

Looking to the Future
At the UFS Department of Ophthalmology, we do more than treat eyes; we restore independence, confidence, and quality of life. Through advanced clinical services, impactful outreach, and world-class training, we remain committed to shaping the future of eye care in South Africa and the region. If you are interested in joining our dedicated team as an undergraduate or postgraduate student, please contact the Department of Ophthalmology directly.

“The eye is the window of the human body through which it feels its way and enjoys the beauty of the world.” – Leonardo da Vinci.