Other namesFrederick Cossum HollowsBirth Date1929Death Date1993About
Fred Hollows was a New Zealand-born Australian ophthalmologist renowned for his dedication to restoring eyesight globally. After studying ophthalmology in England, he moved to Australia in 1965, becoming an associate professor at the University of New South Wales. In the 1970s, he identified a high prevalence of trachoma among Indigenous Australians and co-founded the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern, Sydney. He led the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program (1976–1978), visiting over 460 Indigenous communities and treating thousands. Hollows also initiated training programs in countries like Nepal, Eritrea, and Vietnam to combat preventable blindness. In 1992, he established The Fred Hollows Foundation to continue this mission. He was named Australian of the Year in 1990 and received the Companion of the Order of Australia in 1991.
