College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences, (COAVS) started its journey in a single room as Comprehensive Eye Care Cell (CEC Cell) at Mayo Hospital Lahore in 1999. Government of the Punjab, with the addition of diploma and graduate degree eye care training programmes and vacancies of teaching faculty, upgraded it to Punjab Institute of Preventive Ophthalmology (PIPO) in year 2004.

Observing the tremendous success and achievements of PIPO and in view to start postgraduate and subspecialty courses in ophthalmology, Government of the Punjab elevated the status of PIPO to College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) in 2007. COAVS in following 4 main domains.

1. Human Resource Development in Eye Care
2. Clinical Services at Institute of Ophthalmology Mayo Hospital
3. Community Outreach Eye Care Projects
4. Information, Education, Communication (IEC), & Advocacy Campaigns

1. Human Resource Development in Eye Care

Regarding the first chapter of training of Hman Resource in Eye care (HRD), we have 13 different courses.

1. Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology
2. Fellowship in Vitreo Retina
3. Fellowship in Ocuoplasty & Orbit
4. Masters in Community Eye Health (MCEH)
5. M Phil Vision Science Optometry
6. M Phil Vision Science Orthoptics
7. M Phil Vision Science Investigative Technology
8. BSc (Hons) Vision Sciences in Optometry
9. BSc (Hons) Vision Sciences in Orthoptics
10. BSc (Hons) Vision Sciences Investigative Technology
11. Ophthalmic Technician Diploma
12. Ophthalmic Nursing Diploma
13. Opticinary Diploma

To teach these courses, COAVS has 40 members teaching faculty including 6 eye consultants, 6 Medical Officers, 11 Optometrists,  8 Community Ophthalmology and management staff and 8 officers for teaching computer, nursing and medical education and subjects of social sciences.

2. Clinical Departments or Ophthalmic Clinic Facilities (OCF)

Clinical Departments or Ophthalmic Clinic Facilities (OCF) are 21 clinical services being provided by dedicated COAVS staff at institute of Ophthalmology Mayo Hospital. they include:

1. Clinical Skill Lab – I
2. Clinical Skill Lab – II
3. Clinical Skill Lab – III
4. LASER Room
5. OCT Room F-1
6. Low Vision Clinic
7. Refraction Clinic – I
8. Refraction Clinic – II
9. Biometry Clinic
10. VR OPD Department
11. VR OT Department
12. Paeds OPD Department
13. Paeds OT Department
14. Paeds Orthoptic Clinic – I
15. Adult Orthoptic Clinic – II
16. Paeds Refraction – I
17. Paeds Refraction – II
18. ROP Clinic
19. Ocular Microbiology Lab
20. Diagnostic Ophthalmology Department
21. Glaucoma Clinic

There are focal clinical person responsible for each OCF and its performance record is maintained and presented to the Principal each month.

3. Department of Community Ophthalmology

Community Ophthalmology is also called Community Eye Care or Preventive Eye Care. These projects maybe of clinical or community setting mainly focused on masses. Community Ophthalmology department is the most diverse department that looking after community eyecare services to masses across whole Punjab.

This look after the community based projects from proposal writing till their mitigation, implementation, monitoring and trainings in the outreach. These projects are either funded by the COAVS itself (by the government) or by the INGOs working with Government of Punjab in collaboration with MOU.

To carry out its assignment it has 4 program officers and other INGO project staff. Clinical staff of Unit Ill is part of its clinical services when required for the community ophthalmology activities.

 Under the umbrella of Community Ophthalmology, following are few of projects that are currently under implementation by COAVS:

• Projects in collaboration with WHO
• Projects by International NGO partners (CBM Germany, Sightsavers International (UK), Fred Hollows Foundation Australia, Brein Holden Foundation (Australia)
• PC1 and ADP schemes approved by Government of Punjab
• Conducting free eye screening and surgical camps across Punjab by COAVS
• School Eye Health Screening Projects
• Inclusive Eye Health (IEH) and Safeguarding Activities

Information, Education, Communication (IEC), & Advocacy Campaigns

This chapter looks after public awareness, health education, media campaigns and measures regarding Inclusive Eye Health (IEH). COAVS conducts regular day celebrations on World Disability Day, World Sight Day, World Glucoma day etc and has strong advocacy for Inclusiveness and Safeguarding related issues.