The hospital’s efforts at restoration of eye sight and other ophthalmic services date back to 1938 when Miss Veda Nicodemus, a registered nurse, arrived at Litein to work at the dispensary that had been started by the Rev. and Mrs. Andrew Andersen. It was during her tenure that Dr. Philip Morris performed the first successful cataract surgery in 1942 using limited resources. The restoration of eyesight by Dr. Morris and Miss Nicodemus greatly boosted the Hospital’s popularity, attracting clients from far and wide, some just to have a look at the “wonder-working duo that could make people see again”.

A client undergoing thorough examination	Clients to be screened at the eye clinic waiting bay

In 1979, Christoffel BlindenMission (CBM) and Sight by Wings started Eye Safaris in which eye screening was carried out and treatment and surgeries performed. Dr V. Klauss from the University of Nairobi’s Ophthalmology department noted that these were his busiest outings of all the Eye Safaris. In 1984, Clinical Officers from Kericho district hospital started referring patients for cataract surgery at our hospital, thereby increasing the number of cataract patients.

An Ophthalmic surgeon performing corrective surgery	eye patients exchanging their experiences after surgery

To improve eye services, the management sent a nurse for ophthalmic training at Mvumi Hospital Tanzania early in 1986 and another nurse was trained in 1989. It was then decided to start a weekly three- day eye clinic while at the same time stepping up mobile clinics to cope with the demand.

An optical workshop was set up at the hospital in 1989 to repair glasses. CBM started sending lenses and frames to be assembled at the workshop.

Staff at work at the hospital’s optical workshop

The University Of Nairobi’s Department Of Ophthalmology with the support of Sight Savers and Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB) began regular monthly eye safaris and this partnership was formally recognized as a pilot project in 1997.

A doctor is currently undertaking postgraduate training in ophthalmology at the University of Nairobi while two ophthalmic nurses have undergone specialized training on refraction course and preventive eye care respectively.

Eye Department at a glance:

Location: old hospital OPD

Staffing: 8

Inpatient bed capacity: 28

Theatre facilities: major/minor

Additional facilities: blocking room/sterilizing room/changing room

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm

Mobile clinics run once to twice monthly

Catchment area: Buret District and its environs.