Eye Care in Kumasi: Specialist Surgeons, Real Equipment, and What You Can Get Treated Locally

By Dr. Joe Kwarteng

Senior Ophthalmologist, St. Thomas Eye Hospital — Kumasi Branch

St. Thomas Eye Hospital, Kumasi — 2nd Floor, Acheampomaa Heights, Ahodwo.

If you live in Kumasi or the wider Ashanti Region and need specialist eye care, the default advice has long been the same: travel to Accra.

That advice is outdated.

St. Thomas Eye Hospital’s Kumasi branch, located in Acheampomaa Heights on Ofori Kuragu Avenue in Ahodwo, has three named ophthalmologists, a full diagnostic suite, an in-house optical shop, and the capability to perform a wide range of clinical, laser, and surgical procedures.

Yet most Ashanti residents don’t know this.

When we look at search data for “eye care Kumasi,” the results are thin: basic business listings, generic service pages, and zero patient-facing editorial content explaining who the surgeons are, what conditions can be treated, or what equipment is available.

This article fills that gap.

Who Are the Ophthalmologists at St. Thomas Eye Hospital Kumasi?

This matters more than most patients realise. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has completed additional years of specialist surgical training in eye diseases. They are not the same as optometrists (who test your vision and prescribe glasses) or opticians (who fit and sell glasses).

The Kumasi branch has three qualified ophthalmologists:

Dr. Joe Kwarteng — Senior Ophthalmologist

Dr. Kwarteng leads the Kumasi branch’s clinical and surgical services. He sees patients for general ophthalmology consultations, glaucoma management, cataract assessments, and surgical procedures. As the senior ophthalmologist on site, he oversees the branch’s quality of care and training activities.

Dr. Maame Gyasiwaa — Ophthalmologist

Dr. Gyasiwaa provides clinical consultations and supports the branch’s growing surgical workload. She is involved in both routine and specialist ophthalmic care for patients across the Ashanti Region.

Dr. Rodriguez Naranjo (Dr. Karell) — Ophthalmologist

Dr. Rodriguez Naranjo brings international training experience to the Kumasi team. He contributes to clinical consultations, surgical procedures, and the hospital’s broader training programme. His presence reflects St. Thomas Eye Hospital’s international partnerships, including collaborations with institutions in Brazil and the United States.

All three ophthalmologists are accepting new patients. You can book a consultation directly through our contact page or call the Kumasi branch at (+233) 54 012 5453.

Diagnostic equipment at St. Thomas Eye Hospital Kumasi, including an auto-lensometer and B-scan ultrasonography unit.

Which Eye Conditions Can Be Treated in Kumasi; or Do You Need to Travel to Accra?

Short answer: most conditions can be handled in Kumasi.

The Kumasi branch offers the same tiered service structure as St. Thomas’s Accra locations. Here’s what’s available:

Clinical Services: General ophthalmology consultations, urgent and emergency eye care, low vision assessments, diabetic eye screening, glaucoma monitoring, and paediatric eye examinations.

Diagnostic and Imaging Services: B-scan ocular sonography, fundus photography, visual fields testing, glaucoma OCT (RNFL analysis), macular OCT, and non-contact tonometry.

Laser Services: Scatter laser treatment, pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP), laser trabeculoplasty, YAG laser iridotomy, and YAG laser capsulotomy.

Surgical Services (L1–L3): Foreign body removal, pterygium excision, chalazion drainage, sutureless small incision cataract surgery, phacoemulsification (laser cataract surgery), intravitreal injections (anti-VEGF), and glaucoma surgery.

Optical Services: Refraction, spectacle fitting, DVLA driver’s licence eye testing, and a fully stocked optical shop with a wide range of frames and lenses.

For the full list of procedures across all levels, see our Services page.

The only procedures that may require referral to the Mataheko Surgical Centre in Accra are complex vitreoretinal cases — such as retinal detachment surgery and advanced vitrectomy — which require unique equipment and specialist vitreoretinal skills.

Even in those cases, diagnosis and pre-operative assessment can be completed in Kumasi, minimising the time patients spend in Accra.

The optical shop at St. Thomas Eye Hospital

Does the Kumasi Branch Accept NHIA, and How Do I Book?

Yes. St. Thomas Eye Hospital Kumasi is an NHIA-accredited facility. General consultations and certain diagnostic services are covered under the National Health Insurance scheme.

Advanced imaging (OCT, FFA), laser procedures, and surgical treatments may require out-of-pocket payment or supplementary insurance coverage. We recommend confirming your specific coverage when booking.

How to book:

• Phone: Call (+233) 54 012 5453 (Kumasi branch direct line)

• Online: Submit an appointment request via our Contact Us page

• Walk-in: Visit 2nd Floor, Acheampomaa Heights, Ofori Kuragu Avenue, Ahodwo, Kumasi. Opening hours: Monday–Friday 7:30am–4:30pm, Saturday 8:30am–2:00pm.

You can request a specific ophthalmologist when booking — Dr. Kwarteng, Dr. Gyasiwaa, or Dr. Rodriguez Naranjo — or see whoever is available on the day.

Optician, Optometrist, or Ophthalmologist — Which One Do You Actually Need?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion in Ghana, and it directly affects whether you get the right care.

Professional	What They Do	When to See Them
Optician	Fills prescriptions, fits and sells glasses and contact lenses	When you already have a prescription and need frames or lenses
Optometrist	Tests your vision, prescribes glasses, screens for common eye diseases	Routine eye tests, glasses prescriptions, basic screenings
Ophthalmologist	Medical doctor + surgeon: diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs surgery	Glaucoma, cataracts, retinal conditions, injuries, any condition requiring medical or surgical treatment

All three professionals play important roles. But if you suspect a disease rather than a simple prescription need — see an ophthalmologist first. St. Thomas Eye Hospital Kumasi has all three under one roof: ophthalmologists for diagnosis and treatment, optometrists for vision testing, and a fully equipped optical shop for frames and lenses.

Eye Health in the Ashanti Region: The Numbers That Should Concern You

A 2025 school eye screening study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS) found that among children screened in the Kumasi metropolis, 34% had at least one ocular disorder. The majority had never been examined by an eye care professional.

Ghana has the highest glaucoma prevalence in Africa; approximately 8% of adults over 30 are affected. In the Ashanti Region, where access to specialist eye care has historically been limited, late-stage diagnoses are particularly common. We’ve written extensively about this: 5 Things Most Ghanaians Get Wrong About Glaucoma.

The practical implication is straightforward: if you live in Kumasi and haven’t had a comprehensive eye examination in the past 12 months — especially if you are over 40, have diabetes, or have a family history of glaucoma — book one now. The Kumasi branch exists specifically so that Ashanti residents don’t need to travel to Accra for this.

How to Get Started

If you’re in Kumasi or the Ashanti Region and need specialist eye care, here’s the simplest path:

1. Book a general consultation. Call (+233) 54 012 5453. Bring your NHIA card if you have one.

2. Get a comprehensive examination. The ophthalmologist will assess your vision, screen for glaucoma and other diseases, and recommend any further diagnostics or treatment.

3. If you need glasses, visit the optical shop. Same building, same visit. No need to go elsewhere.

4. If you need surgery, it can likely be done locally. Cataract surgery, glaucoma procedures, laser treatments, and most other interventions are performed at the Kumasi branch.

St. Thomas Eye Hospital Kumasi is located on the 2nd Floor of Acheampomaa Heights, Ofori Kuragu Avenue, Ahodwo, Kumasi (Ghana Post: AK-370-1436). Opening hours: Monday–Friday 7:30am–4:30pm, Saturday 8:30am–2:00pm. View all branches →

Related Reading

• Eye Drops, Laser, or Surgery? Your Glaucoma Treatment Options in Ghana

• Cataract Surgery in Ghana: What Patients Ask Most

• 5 Things Most Ghanaians Get Wrong About Glaucoma

• Contact Lenses vs. Glasses in Ghana: Which Is Right for You?