Private equity firm Cardinal Capital Group has invested €30 million in Cathedral Eye Clinic, which runs specialist eye-surgery centres in Belfast and Birmingham. The investment will support the clinic’s expansion in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and England.
Under the plan, Cathedral Eye Clinic will build a new ophthalmology clinic in Belfast, doubling the surgical capacity of its existing facility. The group also intends to establish a new ophthalmology unit in Dublin and a separate clinic in England to meet growing demand for eye care services.
John Dolan, managing director at Cardinal Capital, highlighted the urgent need for additional ophthalmology services across Ireland. “Ireland North and South is already underserved by ophthalmology clinics, resulting in unnecessarily long waiting lists and the fourth lowest number of cataract procedures per head of population in the EU,” he said. Dolan added that with aging populations on both sides of the border, demand for eye surgeries is expected to rise significantly. “Working in partnership, Cathedral Eye Clinic and Cardinal will develop the most advanced group of ophthalmology clinics on the island to meet this growing need,” he said.
Johnny Moore, founder of Cathedral Eye Clinic, emphasised the importance of selecting the right partner for expansion. “Given Cardinal Capital’s deep sector knowledge and its track record with the Sports Surgery Clinic, where it doubled capacity, it was clear from the outset that Cardinal was the right partner for us,” Moore said. He added that he is particularly excited about the new Belfast facilities and plans to bring the clinic’s expertise south of the border.
As part of the deal, Cardinal Capital will acquire a majority stake in Cathedral Eye Clinic. The move is expected to accelerate the clinic’s growth strategy and increase access to specialist eye care across multiple locations.
The expansion aims to reduce waiting times for patients in both Ireland and the UK and to address a growing need for ophthalmology services, particularly cataract procedures, which are in high demand due to the aging population.
Cathedral Eye Clinic currently provides a range of services, including cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, and laser eye procedures, and has positioned itself as a leading provider of private ophthalmology care in its existing markets.
With Cardinal Capital’s investment, the clinic plans to modernise its facilities and extend surgical capacity, positioning it to meet the rising demand for eye care services while maintaining high standards of patient care.
The partnership underscores the growing trend of private equity involvement in healthcare, particularly in specialist sectors where rising demand and limited capacity create opportunities for investment and expansion.
