The Order of St. John has been helping people with eye problems in the Middle East since the 19th century. The Eye Hospital in Jerusalem opened in 1882, with the assistance of The Ophthalmic Hospital Foundation. Each of the eight priories of the Order contributes to the work of the Eye Hospital.
Fast Facts
St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem…
• Performs 50,000 outpatient visits and 5,000 major eye operations each year
• Operates a mobile clinic in Gaza and provides outreach services throughout the region
• In 2005, the Eye Hospital received 32,317 patient visits and carried out 1,615 major operations and 1,710 minor operations and lasers.
The St. John Eye Hospital is a charitable facility located in Jerusalem about three kilometers north of the Old City. The current building was opened in 1960 with Canadian Superintendent-in-Chief Miss Margaret MacLaren attending. It is open to all people, without discrimination.
The St. John Eye Hospital performs surgery for cataracts, various pediatric eye diseases, glaucoma, retinal detachments, diabetic eye disease, eyelid and tearing disorders. Nursing staff is mostly local with a smaller number of expatriates while the medical staff is an equal mix of expatriates and local medical practitioners.
In 1979, the Priory of Canada made a commitment to support a Canadian Surgeon at the Hospital. The program continued almost uninterrupted until 1993 when changes in Canadian specialty training programs made it impossible. For the next eight years Canadian funds supported the Hospital with other smaller contributions and some surgical specialist short-term visits.
As of 2001, Canada has supported a Senior Consultant Pediatric Ophthalmologist at the Hospital. Dr. Maram Isaac is from an area just southeast of Bethlehem. She bears principal, and often sole, responsibility for children in the hospital, which amounted to 25 per cent of patients last year.
Donate Now
To assist St. John Ambulance in its support of the Eye Hospital, St. John Ambulance Canada accepts donations. If you would like to donate, please visit our Donate Now page to learn how.