Latest News

Pakistan floods - freeze debts to allow more money for health 
International aid agencies Oxfam, The Fred Hollows Foundation, and World Vision have joined with delegates at a United Nations health conference in Melbourne to call for the international community to freeze Pakistan’s debt and do more to help the country cope with the devastating effects of widespread flooding. Find out more

Support Indigenous literacy today 
Indigenous Literacy Day is an opportunity for the wider community to help improve the lives of Aboriginal Australians. Find out more

Global blindness a key challenge to ending world poverty
More must be done to restore sight to 45 million people living with avoidable blindness, if a United Nations campaign to eradicate poverty in the next five years is to succeed, says The Foundation's CEO Brian Doolan. Find out more

A healthy start for Indigenous infants
In a bid to combat the severe iron deficiencies many Indigenous infants experience, The Fred Hollows Foundation is trialling an innovative nutritional supplement in the remote Northern Territory community of Ngukurr. Find out more

Top End: reaching out to restore sight
The Foundation's Outreach Optometry Program is bringing vision services to Indigenous people in remote locations - so that no one is denied this essential health care. Find out more

US study shows healthy diet may reduce risk of cataract
A recent US study shows that a healthy diet rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of cataract in women. Find out more

Sights set on new South Africa projects
A study is underway to determine if The Foundation should expand its work into the North West Province of South Africa. Find out more

"I became a young man again"
Duch Thim from Cambodia tells us what it is like to see again after living with blindness. Find out more

Pakistan floods impact eye health program
The Fred Hollows Foundation will continue to support eye health in Pakistan despite recent catastrophic flooding. Find out more

Standard Chartered Bank boosts China program
Standard Chartered Bank has joined with The Fred Hollows Foundation to restore sight to thousands of people in China. Find out more

Blind supporter embarks on epic swim
A loyal supporter will tackle extreme water temperatures and currents to raise funds for The Foundation in Hawaii later this year. Find out more

Study finds half of children who are blind don't need to be
A survey of school children who are blind in Cambodia has found that over half suffer from conditions that are avoidable. Find out more

Sight restored to over 250 people in Cambodia
The Foundation has conducted a five-day surgical eye camp in the Korng Pisey district of Cambodia, resulting in sight being restored to over 250 people. Find out more

Reaching more women in Nepal 
A policy brief co-authored by The Foundation’s Medical Advisor, Dr Reeta Gurung, recommends steps for increasing women’s access to eye care in Nepal. Find out more

"Now my new life has come" 
Sight is being restored to people like Sao Phuen, in central Cambodia, because of The Foundation's work through AusAID's Avoidable Blindness Initiative (ABI). Find out more

Aboriginal cooking show promotes better nutrition
A new cooking show created by the Indigenous community of Wugularr, in the Northern Territory, aims to encourage healthy eating habits. Find out more

Stitch-free surgery puts Nepal on the map
Dr Sanduk Ruit, a longtime friend and colleague of Fred Hollows, has been hailed for exporting stitch-free eye surgery to the world, at a ceremony in Singapore. Find out more

Training more doctors in Vietnam
A new project in Vietnam will help address a shortage of eye doctors in the north and central regions of the country and provide treatment to patients unable to afford surgery. Find out more

Avoidable Blindness Initiative saving sight in Cambodia
Cambodian student Long Samphors recently underwent life-changing cataract surgery, after local health workers conducted an eye screening program in his village. Find out more

Running for Fred
A loyal supporter has taken on the world's largest and oldest marathon, in South Africa, to support The Foundation's work. Find out more

The Foundation to host study tour
Blindness prevention in Southern Asia will receive a skills boost in late 2010 when regional experts embark on study fellowships with The Foundation. Find out more

Fred Hollows featured on new $1 coin
The late Australian eye surgeon, Professor Fred Hollows is the face of a new $1 coin that was launched at Parliament House in Canberra recently. Find out more

Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2010
NAIDOC Week (4-11 July) is a chance to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians. Read a recent National Indigenous Times profile by Lauren Drayton on community elder Gilbray Alum. Find out more

Increasing early detection in China
More people living with diabetes-related eye disease in China will be screened and treated due to a large-scale awareness campaign conducted by The Foundation, in partnership with Aier Eye Hospital Group. Find out more

Indigenous students log on for literacy
Primary school students at Northern Territory schools are learning language, comprehension and reading skills online, thanks to a university study supported by The Foundation. Find out more

A special friendship
The Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, in conjunction with freelance journalist Miriam Fisher, has released a book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Nepal. Find out more

2009 results set new record
The Foundation restored sight to 195,406 people across 18 countries last year - an increase of around 125,000 operations since 2006. Find out more

Raising awareness to get results in Bangladesh
More people living with cataract blindness will be screened and treated in Bangladesh as a result of community leaders and volunteers raising awareness of the condition and how it can be treated. Find out more

Working with Indigenous Australians: 2009 Highlights
When it came to the health and rights of Indigenous Australians Professor Fred Hollows never shirked a challenge. Find out more

More active after cataract surgery 
The Foundation’s Dr Wanjiku Mathenge has co-authored a PLoS ONE journal paper exploring the positive impact of sight-restoring cataract surgery on people's daily activities and time use in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Find out more

Managing refractive error: the need for glasses 
The Foundation’s Medical Director, Dr Richard Le Mesurier, has co-authored a British Medical Journal paper on treating refractive error, an avoidable eye condition causing blurred vision. Find out more

Foundation partner receives top honour in Nepal 
The Foundation congratulates master surgeon Dr Sanduk Ruit, a long time friend and colleague of Fred Hollows, on receiving one of Nepal’s greatest honours. Find out more

Massive eye screening in Afghanistan
The Fred Hollows Foundation recently screened 2,188 school children for debilitating eye conditions in war-torn Afghanistan. Find out more

Les Fallick elected as new Chairman
The Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Les Fallick as the new Chairman of its Board. Find out more

YouTube clip passes 100,000 views
The Foundation’s YouTube video, featuring music by the band Jet and showcasing the work of the late Professor Fred Hollows, has now been viewed more than 100,000 times. Find out more

Avoidable Blindness Initiative restoring sight in Timor-Leste
Seventy-four-year old Timorese grandmother, Olinda Guterres, can see again thanks to work undertaken as part of the Australian Government’s Avoidable Blindness Initiative, and implemented by The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand. Find out more

Three million Cambodians to get better eye care
Eye health services will improve for around 3 million Cambodians living alongside one of the ancient wonders of the world, Angkor Wat - with the commencement of construction of the Siem Reap Regional Eye Hospital. Find out more

National Reconciliation Week: May 27 to June 3
Reconciliation Week 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk for Reconciliation. Find out more

'Fred Hollows: Photos from the field' exhibition in Canberra
Throughout July and August, Parliament House in Canberra will host a collection of recent and archival photography featuring the work of late Australian eye surgeon, Professor Fred Hollows - as well as the continuing work of The Fred Hollows Foundation. Find out more

The Eye Ball 2010 helping Fred's dream live on
The Eye Ball 2010, being held in Melbourne next month, will raise money to support The Foundation's work to restore sight and improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. Find out more

Government to boost Indigenous eye care
The Foundation welcomes today's announcement by the Australian Government to deliver new or expanded eye care services to 106 rural and remote Indigenous communities. Find out more

Bob McMullan visits Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology
Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for International Development and Assistance, The Hon. Bob McMullan MP, has praised the achievements of Tilganga and The Fred Hollows Foundation during his visit to the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu. Find out more

Fred Hollows lens production passes four million
The Fred Hollows Foundation have announced that Fred Hollows laboratories in Nepal and Eritrea have now manufactured over four million intraocular lenses (IOLs) for use in low cost cataract surgery. Find out more

Sight restored to 187 people in remote Nepal
The Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, with support from The Fred Hollows Foundation UK, has examined almost 1,100 people and restored sight to 187 during a three day outreach eye camp in the remote district of Rolpa, Nepal. Find out more

Working to restore sight in Lao PDR
The Foundation has been working in Lao PDR for just over a year. But already, big steps are being taken which will assist many thousands of people regain their vision. Find out more

Sight restored to 48 Indigenous patients in Central Australia
Eye health workers in Central Australia have restored sight to 48 Indigenous patients from remote communities during a week-long surgery session in Alice Springs. Find out more

A life changing experience for Foundation Fellow, Dr Katherine Smallcombe
Few people training to be an ophthalmic surgeon have had the life changing experience Dr Katherine Smallcombe has enjoyed as inaugural recipient of The Fred Hollows Foundation Fellowship. Find out more

Miracle of sight in Lao PDR
Sight is being restored to people living in the remote northern provinces of Lao PDR. Eighty year old Ying can once again see the birds, trees and hills surrounding her home. Find out more

The Foundation awarded for work in Vietnam
The Foundation has received an important award from the Government of Vietnam for its work in helping eliminate avoidable blindness in the country.  Find out more

Sydney Coastrek 2010
On Friday March 5 and Saturday March 6, the inaugural Wild Women on Top Sydney Coastrek event took place. An initiative of Di Westaway from Wild Women on Top, Coastrek is an adventure fitness challenge, with participants trekking 50km or 100km and raising money for The Foundation. Find out more

Better eye health services for Central Australia
The Fred Hollows Foundation has pledged to raise $3million to construct a new eye unit at Alice Springs Hospital. Find out more

Foundation expands Childhood Blindness work in Vietnam
A major new Fred Hollows Foundation Childhood Blindness program for Vietnam has been launched in Hanoi by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan. Find out more

Bob McMullan and Australian Government helping to save sight
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Mr Bob McMullan, recently visited The Foundation, sharing his thoughts on work being done to save sight around the world – led by the Australian people and backed in by the Australian Government. Find out more

Sight restored in Cambodia
More than 200 people have received surgery at a four day outreach clinic conducted in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. Find out more

Close the Gap Day – March 25
The Foundation is a proud member of the Close the Gap campaign, working to end the disparity in health between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians within a generation. Find out more

Surgery skills transfer in South Africa
The Fred Hollows Foundation South Africa has organised a mini-conference of ophthalmology, held at the Sabona Eye Centre in Queenstown. The gathering included hands-on surgery demonstrations, focussing on manual small incision surgery. Find out more

US wowed by Doctor’s work
The United States media has profiled the amazing work of Dr Sanduk Ruit and the Tilganga Institue of Ophthalmology. Dr Ruit and his fellow surgeons recently carried out more than 500 surgeries at an outreach clinic in Hetauda, Nepal. Find out more

Providing opportunity in the Jawoyn region
The Fred Hollows Foundation and the Jawoyn Association are providing opportunities for young Indigenous people to interact and learn from their elders through hearing the stories of the Jawoyn people, culture and history. Find out more

Foundation calls for reinstatement Racial Discrimination Act
The Fred Hollows Foundation supports calls for the Federal Government to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act immediately, as recommended by a report released today by the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association on the Northern Territory Emergency Response. Find out more

The Black Arm Band group receives top award
The Black Arm Band has been recognised for their outstanding achievement in performing arts, receiving one of Australia’s most prestigious awards – The Sidney Myer Performing Arts, Group Award. Find out more

Foundation-trained surgeons restore sight to thousands in China
Surgeons trained by The Foundation have taken part in a campaign to provide free surgery to 100,000 cataract patients, with one surgeon restoring sight to 7,900 people. Find out more

Gabi honours The Foundation's inspirational women
Gabi Hollows has used International Women’s Day to honour three women who are continuing Fred’s dream of bringing sight to the blind and improving health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Find out more

380 people treated in Afghanistan
The Foundation is continuing to provide eye care services to people in war-torn Afghanistan with 380 people recently treated for various eye conditions, including cataract blindness. Find out more

A long walk to save sight
Teams of trekkers led by the adventure fitness group, Wild Women On Top, are hoping to complete a 100km walk of Sydney’s coastline to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation. Find out more

"I felt so happy that I could see everything"
Kaniz Fatema from Bangladesh tells us in her own words what it was like being blind as a child and how her life has changed since her sight was restored. Find out more

Ruby Hunter: an inspiration to all
The Fred Hollows Foundation is saddened by the sudden passing of Indigenous singer/songwriter, Ruby Hunter. Ms Hunter was a great friend of The Foundation through her work promoting health and literacy and her ability to inspire the many people she met on her visits to community. Find out more

'In Fred's Footsteps' exhibition opens in QLD
Touring regional and metropolitan libraries in QLD over the next two years, the exhibition celebrates the life and achievements of the late Fred Hollows, and features The Foundation's continuing work to eliminate avoidable blindness. Find out more

Closing the gap: Shadow Report released
The Foundation welcomes the Prime Minister's renewed commitment to improving Indigenous health, outlined in Parliament on Thursday, 11 February. As a member of the Close the Gap campaign, The Foundation has helped put together a shadow report which outlines success stories and sets out some of the major challenges still to be addressed. Read the report

A video tribute to Fred
It is now 17 years since the passing of Professor Fred Hollows. This is a small video tribute to the man who inspires The Foundation’s work. Find out more

Australian actress Jessica McNamee joins Fred's Foundation
Jessica McNamee has officially joined The Fred Hollows Foundation as an Ambassador following a visit to Vietnam where she witnessed sight being restored to the blind. Find out more

Mega eye camp restores sight to over 1000 people
The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to a near record number of patients during a mega eye camp in remote Nepal. Working with its partner in Nepal, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, over 1000 patients had their sight restored in just five days. Find out more

Eye camp restores sight to 521 in Bangladesh
The Foundation has restored sight to 521 people during a recent outreach microsurgical eye camp held in Satkhira district, Bangladesh. Find out more

Worthy recognition for two great Australians
The Foundation congratulates Ray Martin and Nigel Milan for receiving a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in this year's Australia Day Honours. Find out more

When Fred was our Australian of the Year
Fred Hollows was named Australian of the Year for 1990. Two decades on, we thought we'd look back at what some people wrote about him at the time of receiving this great honour. Find out more

Inspiring results in China
The Fred Hollows Foundation is playing its role in a ground breaking cataract elimination program in China, which has already restored sight to thousands. Find out more

New frontiers: Burundi, Africa
The Fred Hollows Foundation has conducted a successful surgical campaign in Burundi, Africa, with sight being restored to 183 cataract patients. Find out more

Sight restored in Rwanda
The Fred Hollows Foundation recently screened 2726 patients for cataract blindness in Rwanda and restored sight to 73. Find out more