The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand announced on Wednesday that it has now supported more than 100,000 sight‑restoring surgeries across the Pacific, marking the milestone on Fred Hollows’ posthumous birthday, April 9. The foundation said the achievement reflects decades of Pacific‑led eye care work — from surgical services to training local clinicians and strengthening health systems — that continues to reach remote and underserved communities.
“Reaching 100,000 sight‑restoring surgeries is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people work together,” said Dr Audrey Aumua, Chief Executive Officer of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. Dr Aumua said the figure is not just a statistic but a measure of lives changed: people returning to work, school and family responsibilities after treatment for avoidable blindness and vision impairment. The foundation has carried on Hollows’ vision for more than 30 years, supporting locally led services across the Pacific.
The foundation highlighted the case of Alexandra, a 73‑year‑old grandfather and pastor from Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands, as an example of how the surgeries translate into real change. Alexandra had lived with cataracts in both eyes for five years and endured a 12‑hour boat trip to Honiara, accompanied by his granddaughter, to access surgery. He received cataract surgery on his left eye and, upon removal of the eye patch, exclaimed, “Wow, it’s so bright,” later describing the day as “a happy day for me — I can see again, for a long time.”
Alexandra told the foundation that his vision loss had affected everyday tasks and family life, from cutting firewood and gardening to preparing food and playing with his eight grandchildren. He is also a preacher and teacher, and losing the ability to read had impacted his community roles. The foundation said his story illustrates not only the personal but also the social value of restoring sight in Pacific communities.
The organisation noted that some cataract surgeries in Pacific contexts can be delivered for as little as US$25 each, a cost‑effective intervention that carries significant economic returns. International research cited by the foundation finds that every dollar invested in eye health yields an average return of US$28 in low‑ and middle‑income countries; the foundation said returns can be even higher in Pacific contexts because of the wide social and economic benefits of preventing avoidable blindness.
Dr Aumua stressed that while the milestone is cause for celebration, avoidable blindness remains a major challenge. “We are incredibly proud of this achievement, but there is much more to do. Avoidable blindness still affects millions, and demand for eye care continues to grow,” she said. The foundation reaffirmed its focus on building resilient, inclusive eye health systems in partnership with Pacific governments, local providers and communities so people are not excluded from care because of cost, distance, disability or gender.
The announcement frames the 100,000‑plus surgeries as a foundation for further investment and scale‑up rather than an endpoint. By combining surgical outreach, training of local eye care teams and systems strengthening, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ aims to expand access across the Pacific and ensure the services communities rely on are locally led and sustainable.
Leave a comment