Advanced eye care services available in Guyana with new Optique Eye Hospital 

Guyanese no longer need to travel abroad for specialised eye care services, following the official opening of the Optique Eye Hospital in Georgetown on Friday evening.

The hospital, located at 350 New Market Street, is a major private investment, supported by the Government of Guyana. Optique’s Chief Executive Officer, Dhani Narine, said the team, which includes one of Guyana’s leading ophthalmologists, Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, had been providing eye care services for years but recognised a greater need for more advanced and accessible support.

Indeed, scores of patients in need of complex eye surgeries had to travel abroad, often to Trinidad and Tobago, for much-needed care. Getting surgeries done abroad is a costly, time-consuming task.

Now, the Optique Eye Hospital team is collaborating with several international partners to offer much-needed services right here in Guyana.

“This project demonstrates that with the right partnerships, a supportive investment climate fostered by the Government of Guyana, and unwavering commitment, highly complex subspecialty procedures can be performed locally at an international standard. We remain committed to investing in advanced ophthalmic services so that no child or adult has to leave the country for sight-saving care when it can be delivered safely and effectively at home,” Narine said.

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali said such private sector-led investments are crucial to bring more accessible services to Guyanese. He posited that this eye hospital, alongside government initiatives such as the expansion of healthcare facilities, screening services, and the provision of health vouchers, will vastly improve citizens’ health.

“The private sector is critical to this national strategy. That is why we have incentivised healthcare in this country,” President Ali said.

In a release from the hospital, it was noted that the team aims to deliver exceptional patient care and outstanding service through the following initiatives:

• Utilisation of state-of-the-art equipment and advanced operating theatres, with a continuous commitment to upgrading medical technologies and procedures 
• Ongoing in-house and external training and development programmes to ensure staff remain highly skilled and equipped to provide quality care 
• Implementation of robust monitoring and evaluation systems to maintain and enhance service standards 
• Continuous execution of vision health education initiatives, including community outreach programmes and eye screening campaigns, to promote awareness and early detection of eye diseases 

Additionally, the hospital offers a comprehensive range of specialised ophthalmic surgical services, including:

• Cataract Surgery 
• Glaucoma Surgery 
• Orbit and Oculoplastic Surgery 
• Corneal and Pterygium Surgery 
• Vitreoretinal Surgery