Background

In 1993 four Bellville located Ophthalmologists, Drs Louis Boezaart, Hubrecht Brody, Johann Slazus and Paul Burger, decided to initialise a joint venture and build the Cape Eye Hospital. This was to be a specialized hospital. Joining forces they were able to afford the most modern technology in Ophthalmology (Eye Diseases, Eye Surgery and Eye Care) A license was obtained in 1994 to establish the Cape Eye Hospital.

Great difficulty was experienced to obtain a suitable venue. Eventually ground was purchased from the University of Stellenbosch at the lower end of Mike Pienaar Boulevard close to Voortrekker Road and adjacent to the Oosterzee Railway Station with an unimpeded view of Table Mountain. Architects Van der Spuy and partners were appointed with Mr. Lucky Van der Spuy as the functional architect. The building contract was awarded to Longworth and Faul. After a year of planning, building commenced which was completed towards the end of 1995 and the first cases officially operated on in January 1996.

The financial aspects of the project were most ably managed by Mr. M Bester and Mr. B Evans, the latter still associated with the CAPE EYE HOSPITAL as its executive manager. Drs Brody, Boezaart, Slazus and Burger are the Trustees of the Hospital.

All colleagues practicing in the Northern Suburbs were invited to participate in this venture once it was completed. Since then the Hospital has grown from strength to strength with at the time of writing 20 Ophthalmologists making use of the facilities. The Hospital has also managed to obtain a license to perform endoscopic orthopedic shoulder surgery and has become a major shoulder surgery centre in Cape Town with Dr Joe De Beer as the leader of the team. The first Eximer laser was installed in 1996 . It was planned that all the aspects of eye Surgery and eye investigations should be performed at the Cape Eye Hospital.

Academic Status

The Cape Eye Hospital has established itself as a leading academic institution. Regular meetings are held where all the aspects of Ophthalmology and the latest developments are discussed. It is also a forum for colleagues to present interesting cases and consult with other eye surgeons. Thus the “problem” patient has the benefit of collective opinion of their specific problem.