One operation can change a life in an instant – permanent access to high quality eye care across the Pacific will change many lives.
In many cases, a short 20-minute operation can restore sight. Yet millions in the Pacific face barriers to accessing the eye care they need. We are committed to changing this.
Restoring and preserving sight is about more than just delivering eye surgeries – it’s about transforming lives and building stronger eye health systems.
We work hand in hand with our Pacific partners to drive the transformation of eye care systems, ensuring that high-quality eye care reaches even the most remote communities.
Eye health is important for a person’s independence, confidence, learning, and social interaction. Restoring sight brings joy and allows people to participate fully in their communities.
When we restore sight, we see the wonder of life seen in vivid colour, the joy of seeing grandchildren smile, and the renewed independence of families.
Restoring sight doesn’t just change one life – it impacts entire communities. When a person regains their vision, it reduces the caregiving responsibilities on their families, allowing more people to participate in work and education.
We see children returning to school, parents going back to work, and grandparents once again active in their communities. By improving eye health, we help communities thrive.
Eye health is crucial for economic development. When people can see clearly, they can work, learn, and actively participate in their communities, creating a ripple effect of economic growth.
Globally, every $1 USD invested in cataract treatment delivers an economic return of $20.50. This is driven by increased labour force participation, enhanced productivity, and improved educational opportunities.
Additionally, every $1 USD invested in tackling the world’s two leading causes of blindness – cataract and refractive error – delivers an economic return of $9.40. By preventing avoidable blindness, we enable individuals to support their families and contribute to their communities, driving sustainable economic development.
As we progress towards a world where no one is needlessly blind or vision impaired, we will continue to work with our Pacific partners to provide outreach teams that can travel to rural communities, provide the medical equipment needed, and support local eye care specialists to deliver crucial screening, checkups, surgeries and treatments.
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is a registered charitable organisation under the Charities Act 2005.
Charities Commission registration number is CC23722.
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