University of Nairobi started postgraduate training in Ophthalmology in 1978 under the Department of Surgery. In 1990, Ophthalmology became an independent Department and was granted the status of WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness in May 1991. The Department has trained over 159 ophthalmologists from 20 different African countries from 1978 to date.
The department is an active member of the College of Ophthalmology, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) which was launched in 2007. The teaching eye clinic is housed by Kenyatta National Hospital. We participate in planning and implementation of VISION 2020 global initiative in Kenya and the region.
