Department of Ophthalmology
Teaching Hospital Jaffna — Northern Province's Regional Eye Care Hub
Regional Hub for Eye Care in
Northern Sri Lanka
The specialty area of medicine that deals with eye health is known as ophthalmology. It comprises the physiology, anatomy, and conditions that could impact the eyes. The Eye Unit of Teaching Hospital Jaffna serves as a regional hub for part of Eastern, North Central, and Northwestern provinces in addition to providing eye care services to the people in Northern Province. For those who are visually impacted, we offer rehabilitation, preventative, and curative services to improve vision.
Furthermore, the department has committed to Eye Sustain, which aims to promote the sustainability of quality eye surgery through education and collaboration. We strive to keep the sustainable development goals in consideration while delivering our services in order to accomplish the Insight 2030 goals.
It has recently been updated to be more elderly-friendly, with barrier-free access and an active 5S transformation. The department employs two general ophthalmologists and one vitreoretinal specialist, and has nearly reached full capacity with two general ophthalmology units and a Vitreo-Retinal unit. It features two inpatient wards with 40 beds each, a three-bed eye theatre, and a digital eye health education system.
80
Inpatient Beds
3
Eye Theatre Beds
98%
eCSC Rate (2024)
Highlights & Milestones
Key outcomes and ongoing programmes of the Department of Ophthalmology
In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 2,907 cataract surgeries were successfully performed. The total number of surgeries for the year is projected to surpass previous annual records by the end of 2025.
The Ananda and Alaka foundations from Malaysia, through Assist RR (UK & Sri Lanka), fully funded the cataract surgeries.
The cataract surgery backlog in the Northern Province has been fully eliminated. Waiting time for cataract surgery has been reduced to zero.
In 2024, achieved a Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) of 15 per 1,000 population and an Effective Cataract Surgical Coverage (eCSC) rate of 98% — outcomes comparable to high-income countries.
Under the special 'Naguleswary Vasudevan Spectacles Program', funded by the Alaka Foundation (Malaysia) through Assist RR (UK & Sri Lanka), 4,697 students in Jaffna District have received free spectacles. The programme is ongoing in the Vavuniya District.
Services
Clinical Services
- General Ophthalmology eye care
- Pediatric ophthalmology eye care
- Glaucoma clinic
- Diabetic eye care clinic
- Special Medical Retina services
- Vitreoretinal care
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) clinic
- Low vision clinic with special needs skills centre
- Visual rehabilitation services — provincial coordinating centre
- Community Ophthalmology service — primary eye care, training, outreach clinics and outreach camps for diagnosis and surgery
Research
Research in eye health is required to address evidence gaps, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The following research activities are being carried out by the Department:
- A study on the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in older adults in Northern Province
- Prevalence study to determine the pattern of Ocular morbidity among school children in Northern Province
- School Eye Health Project
- Effective Cataract surgery outcome
- Cataract and co-morbidities
The Department of Ophthalmology is striving to create a region where no one is blind or visually impaired needlessly — looking beyond the objectives of Insight 2030 by harnessing the power of public-private partnerships across national government, NGOs, local communities and the eye health field.
"A Better Vision Is Our Responsibility"
Our Activities
Poson Celebration – 2024
Naguleswary Vasudevan Spectacles Program – Jaffna
Community Screening – Mullaithivu
