-at National Ophthalmology Hospital

-by Kyler Rollins

The National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, Region 6, remains Guyana’s sole facility for specialised eye-care services. The hospital offers a range of optical surgeries, including optical procedures and treatment for other eye conditions. 

Speaking with NCN News, Regional Health Officer Dr. Vineshri Khirodhar, who previously served as the medical superintendent for the facility revealed that more than 1300 surgeries were performed in 2024, while in 2025 the figures increased to 1800.

This, she says, is a result of significant improvements in the quality of services offered at the hospital. 

“The number of eye surgeries would have varied because we have a mandate to provide eye-care for the entire country; that is all 10 administrative regions. The Ministry of Health has rolled out a program where we would go into the other regions, that the far hinterland regions like Regions 7, 8, 9. We would screen patients there and then we would fly them back to region 6 in order to get surgery,” she said.

According to the RHO, the facility has now transitioned to conducting Phaco surgeries; a modern technique for cataract surgeries, performed quicker and significantly reduces the healing time for patients.

“There are two surgeons trained and they basically specialize in this Phaco type of surgery which they have been doing at the National Ophthalmology Hospital. Another new procedure that would have started there and this would’ve been the latter half of 2024, would’ve been intravitreal injections. Its where certain patients for example our diabetic patients who would’ve had diabeties for over a number of years…When this is diagnosed patients may require intravitreal injections,” Dr Khirodhar explained.

Looking ahead, Dr. Khirodhar says the hospital is working towards the establishment of a retinal theatre by mid-2026, with support from the government.