The Department of Ophthalmology was established in the King George Hospital during the initial years. It was housed at the present Physiology block. It was later shifted to the present Orthopaedic ward. In 1930, it was shifted to the new block (present ENT block). The first professor at the Department of Ophthalmology was Dr C. Abbu Mudaliar with his two assistants. The Diploma in Ophthalmology course was started in the year 1948.

The 75-bedded Ophthalmology department was shifted to its present site in 1981. The present new building was established in the year 1984 and was completed in phases by 1988. The department has an Out Patient ward, In Patient wards with a bed strength of over 200 beds, two main Operation Theatres (OTs), one Emergency Theatre for septic cases. The department also has a Mobile Ophthalmic Unit since 1973. Special clinics to correct eyesight disorders such as squint, contact lens, retinal, Intra-ocular lens and an Eye Clinic for school children is also being run.

The department offers training to Undergraduate and Postgraduate students for MS and D.O. degrees and to ophthalmic assistants.