Division of Ophthalmology 

The community we serve

We serve a highly diverse group of patients but the majority of our patients come from a socio-economically disadvantaged background. The people are generally unemployed and heavily reliant on governmental social support measures. Social violence, crime, poor health surveillance and transport difficulties bring about unique pathologies and challenges to patient management and follow up care. We therefore strive to make a positive contribution to our patient's wellbeing by providing high standard quality care.

Our unit is privileged to be situated in arguably the most beautiful part of South Africa. Tygerberg Academic Hospital shares the responsibility of rendering an ophthalmic service to the inhabitants of the Western Cape Province with our colleagues at Grootte Schuur Hospital. Patients seen at Tygerberg Academic Hospital are mainly resident in the cities of Tygerberg and Helderberg of the Cape Town Metropolis. Since the completion of the Khayelitsha District Hospital, patients of this area has also fallen under our umbrella of care. The rural part of the Western Cape includes some of the most scenic places in South Africa. We service patients as far as Hermanus, Swellendam, Robertson, Ceres, Laingsburg, Sutherland and Niewoudtville. Outreach clinics and surgical projects extend as far as Upington in the Northern Cape and Windhoek in Namibia.