St. John's Ophthalmic Hospital

The St. John Ophthalmic Hospital was founded in 1882 to meet the ophthalmic disease and injury problems of the people of the Holy Land. It has its historical roots in the Muristan in the Old City.

The hospital offers a wide range of ophthalmic care from simple screening to complex vitreo-retinal surgery. Services include:

• Orthoptics
• Kow Vision Aids
• Refraction
• Cataract surgery
• Corneal transplant
• Retinal treatments for such diseases as diabetes.
• A wide range of trauma.

St. John's has been a very busy hospital treating an average of 50,000 patients a year and carrying out approximately 3,500 operations annually. In addition to its Jerusalem activities, the hospital has a permanent clinic in Gaza City and holds Outreach Clinics in the West Bank and Gaza.

The hospital provides treatments on a subsidized basis to those who cannot afford full rates. In special cases, it provides free treatment. It is supported by the Order of St. John which has world-wide connections. Its survival depends on charitable donations and like most charities needs a dependable, regular source of income.

The motto of the Venerable Order of St. John is "Service to Mankind" and the Ophthalmic Hospital fulfills that philosophy by providing ophthalmic care of high quality and relevance to the people of the Holy Land, regardless of race, creed, social class and ability to pay.