Fred Hollows
Fred Hollows was an eye surgeon (Ophthalmologist) who became well known for restoring eyesight to thousands of people all around the world. Fred Devoted his life to helping people see again. It was Fred’s dream for a world without people being blind and Indigenous Australians to be as healthy as everyone else. Fred was born in New Zealand, April 9 1929 and he grew up in Dunedin. Fred had two other Brothers Monty and Colin
Fred initially attended Bible College in Dunedin, wanting to join the clergy. After joining a seminary Fred felt that this wasn’t his passion. He enrolled himself medical school at Otago University in New Zealand, where he decided to become an eye doctor. In 1961, Fred moved to Moorfields in the United Kingdom to study ophthalmology. In 1965, Fred moved to Australia to become a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney.
Fred started his work in Australia and in 1971 and he and some others established the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern. For the next few years he worked in indigenous communities trying to cure people of trachoma and other eye diseases. After 1985 he worked in 3rd world countries like Nepal, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, specialising in cataract surgery. Part of his life work was to invent implanted intraocular lens at an affordable price. Fred’s pioneering work involved him in establishing factories in Nepal and Eretria that were able to produce replacement lens that were inserted once the cataracts were removed. The IOL lenses were made from plastic rather than glass and made in third world countries at a cheaper rate making them more affordable for the poor people. The lenses are made in high tech laboratories and how the eyesight is restored is quit a simple technique. A small incision is made below the eyeball gently causing the cataract to slide out. The IOL lens is then inserted where the cataract was. Within 10 minutes eyesight is restored. Fred and his wife Gabi set
Fred initially attended Bible College in Dunedin, wanting to join the clergy. After joining a seminary Fred felt that this wasn’t his passion. He enrolled himself medical school at Otago University in New Zealand, where he decided to become an eye doctor. In 1961, Fred moved to Moorfields in the United Kingdom to study ophthalmology. In 1965, Fred moved to Australia to become a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney.
Fred started his work in Australia and in 1971 and he and some others established the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern. For the next few years he worked in indigenous communities trying to cure people of trachoma and other eye diseases. After 1985 he worked in 3rd world countries like Nepal, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, specialising in cataract surgery. Part of his life work was to invent implanted intraocular lens at an affordable price. Fred’s pioneering work involved him in establishing factories in Nepal and Eretria that were able to produce replacement lens that were inserted once the cataracts were removed. The IOL lenses were made from plastic rather than glass and made in third world countries at a cheaper rate making them more affordable for the poor people. The lenses are made in high tech laboratories and how the eyesight is restored is quit a simple technique. A small incision is made below the eyeball gently causing the cataract to slide out. The IOL lens is then inserted where the cataract was. Within 10 minutes eyesight is restored. Fred and his wife Gabi set