The only training facility of its kind in the Pacific, the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) is tackling the massive shortage of eye specialists in the region while also delivering essential eye care services to combat avoidable blindness.
Pacific Eye Institute/CWM Eye Department
Opening hours
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 4:30pm
Friday: 8am – 4pm
Saturday, Sunday, & Public Holidays: CLOSED
Low government funding, a shortage of doctors and nurses, and rundown facilities and equipment continue to pose significant challenges for eye care in the Pacific. For those living in remote areas, accessing essential health services is often nearly impossible. To address these challenges, we established the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in 2006 with a mission to train local doctors and nurses and improve eye care services across the region.
Initially based at Tamavua Hospital in Suva, the Institute moved in 2010 to a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility on the grounds of Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital. This custom-designed hub integrates eye care and teaching and has become a central resource for the entire Pacific region.
In 2011, the Diabetes Eye Clinic opened on-site to provide diabetes eye care services and deliver a teaching programme for nurses in diabetes eye care. This initiative followed a 2009 study that revealed over 40% of adults aged 40 and older in Fiji have diabetes, highlighting the urgent demand for targeted diabetes eye care services.
The Pacific Eye Institute offers postgraduate courses tailored to the unique eye care needs of the Pacific region, alongside ongoing professional development and support for graduates and eye care workers. The Institute also plays a key role in advocating for greater investment in eye health and conducting vital research to advance eye care in the region. All courses are accredited through Fiji National University’s College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, ensuring high-quality training and education.
The Pacific Eye Institute is a leading provider of eye care services in Fiji and through outreach programmes across the Pacific, performing approximately 1,500 eye surgeries annually. The Institute is also home to the Diabetes Eye Clinic, which provides specialised care for patients with diabetes-related eye conditions and offers training for nurses in this critical area. This combination of services and training ensures that trainee eye nurses and doctors gain valuable hands-on experience while meeting the region’s growing demand for quality eye care.
In 2023, in partnership with CWM’s Hospital’s eye department, the Pacific Eye Institute provided:
The Institute is also the base for national surgical outreaches, Mobile Eye Clinic outreaches, and local diabetes eye care outreaches which in 2023 delivered a further:
In partnership with Fiji National University, the Pacific Eye Institute has trained 227 eye doctors, nurses, and technicians across 15 countries. In 2023 there are 13 students enrolled.
In 2023, in partnership with CWM’s Hospital’s eye department, the Pacific Eye Institute provided:
The Institute is also the base for national surgical outreaches, Mobile Eye Clinic outreaches, and local diabetes eye care outreaches which in 2023 delivered a further:
In partnership with Fiji National University, the Pacific Eye Institute has trained 227 eye doctors, nurses, and technicians across 15 countries. In 2023 there are 13 students enrolled.
In 2023, in partnership with CWM’s Hospital’s eye department, the Pacific Eye Institute provided:
The Institute is also the base for national surgical outreaches, Mobile Eye Clinic outreaches, and local diabetes eye care outreaches which in 2023 delivered a further:
In partnership with Fiji National University, the Pacific Eye Institute has trained 227 eye doctors, nurses, and technicians across 15 countries. In 2023 there are 13 students enrolled.
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is a registered charitable organisation under the Charities Act 2005.
Charities Commission registration number is CC23722.
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