The fight against preventable blindness and vision impairment in Côte d’Ivoire has entered a new phase, following the installation of state-of-the-art ophthalmology equipment at the Cocody University Hospital Centre (CHU).
Commissioned on July 8, 2025, the new ophthalmology suite makes Cocody CHU the first public hospital in the country to operate with international-standard diagnostic and treatment tools for eye diseases.
For patients, the significance is clear. Conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma—leading causes of vision loss in West Africa—can now be detected earlier and treated with higher precision, without the need for costly overseas referrals.
The newly acquired devices include:
- IOL Master 700, which allows ultra-accurate eye measurements before cataract surgery.
- HFA 3 Field of Vision, used for early diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma.
- OCT Cirrus 6000 with Angioplex module, a retinal scanner providing detailed imaging without injections.
- Clarus 700, capable of capturing ultra-wide retinal images in a single shot.
Specialists at Cocody CHU note that these tools will improve both the speed and accuracy of diagnosis, making it possible to plan surgeries with greater confidence and provide patients with treatment options previously unavailable in the public health system.
The government has emphasized that the project is part of a wider plan to modernize healthcare infrastructure across the country, ensuring that high-quality services are no longer limited to private facilities or foreign hospitals.
For many Ivorians, the upgrade means that advanced eye care is finally within reach—offering not only restored vision but also restored hope.
📸 Source: Gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire
