The hospital was founded in 1808 by Dr William Henry Goldwyer as "The Institution for the Cure of Disease of the Eye Amongst the Poor" in Lower Maudlin Street.[5] In 1839, and again in 1898, it expanded into adjoining buildings. In 1935 a new building was completed, which was in turn replaced in 1982 creating the present hospital which opened in 1986. A refurbishment and expansion took place between 2010 and 2011.[6]