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An eye surgeon at work in a theatre. Photo by Olga Guryanova on

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Fred Hollows

Professor Fred Hollows was an internationally acclaimed Australian eye surgeon who championed the right of all people to high-quality and affordable eye care and good health. 

Fred got things done. He always pushed for change and, because of that, set in motion a legacy to end avoidable blindness.

In his time as a humanitarian and eye surgeon on behalf of the World Health Organisation, Fred helped restore eyesight to thousands of people in Australia and overseas.

1. His childhood and early life were in Dunedin, New Zealand

A boy playing outdoors. Photo by MI PHAM on

Fred Hollows was born on April 9, 1929, in Dunedin, New Zealand. His parents were Joseph and Clarice hollows on April 9, 1929, in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he continued to live for his first seven years of life. he was the middle child, with three brothers: Colin, John, and Maurice. as a young boy, he attended ‘northeast valley primary school’ in New Zealand.

2. Hollows developed a love of mountain climbing at a tender age

A boy in his tender age holding an axe. Photo by Annie Spratt on

He developed a love of mountain climbing at a tender age. Fred was an active member of the New Zealand alpine club while living in Dunedin. He climbed several peaks in the mount aspiring, Tititea region of Central Otago. in 1951, Fred met Sir Edmund Hillary.

3. Fred’s school life was a mix-up of different professions

A young man perusing through a book in a library. Photo by Dollar Gill on

He originally studied to become a minister, but a summer holiday job at a mental health facility opened his eyes to a different way of thinking. His talent in science meant he was offered a place in medicine, and after graduating, Fred began assisting eye surgeons.

He studied medicine at Otago medical school. in 1961, hollows went to moon fields eye hospital in England to study how to be a specialist eye doctor. Later Fred Hollows worked at the university of new South Wales.

4. In this day and age, his foundation works tirelessly to achieve Fred’s vision of a world where no person is needlessly blind

Illuminated eye chart used by Fred Hollows.JPG
An illuminated eye chart used by Fred Hollows, 1976-79.
Part of the Fred Hollows collection at the National Museum of Australia. Photo by Mitch Ames – Wikimedia Commons

Today, the Fred Hollows Foundation works tirelessly in more than 25 countries to achieve

Fred’s vision of a world where no person is needlessly blind. Inspired by Fred’s legacy, the foundation has successfully restored sight to millions of people around the world, and inspired by Fred we won’t stop until avoidable blindness is a thing of.

5. Fred founded two factories in Nepal and Eritrea

People working in a factory. Photo by Remy Gieling on

Fred was also an innovator, he founded two factories in Nepal and Eritrea which could produce affordable intraocular lenses – significantly reducing the cost of cataract surgery in developing countries.

6. Fred Hollow’s marriage life to Mary Skiller

A white couple outdoors. Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on

Fred Hollows married Mary Skiller in 1958. unfortunately, she died in 1975. she and hollows had two children together. after her death, hollows married for the second time in 1980 to gabi O’Sullivan. the couple had five children together. hollows were originally a New Zealand citizen, but in 1989, he adopted an Australian.

7.  He is one of Australia’s greatest icons an ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things

Info sign, Fred Hollows Reserve, Randwick, Sydney. Photo by Sardaka –

Fred Hollows is one of Australia’s greatest icons an ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things, fighting to end Fred Hollows was a man who got things done. a passionate eye doctor and humanitarian, Fred always pushed for change and Nene is an indigenous woman from the Mamanwa tribe of Surigao del Norte in the Philippines.

8. Hollows was an ophthalmologist who dedicated his career to helping people

An ophthalmologist checking out a patient’s eye. Photo by CDC on

He was an ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, who dedicated his career to helping people who did not have access to basic eye care. he helped to restore the eyesight of thousands of people in Australia and around the world.

9. Fred Hollows was diagnosed with cancer but was determined to keep pushing for change

Fred Hollows Grave Bourke. Photo by Sheba –

Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Fred was determined to keep pushing for change. In the last few months of his life, he discharged himself from the hospital to fly to Vietnam to train over 300 Vietnamese eye specialists in modern surgery techniques.

 These surgeons have gone on to train others, significantly reducing the number of avoidably blind in Vietnam.

10. Fred Hollow’s legacy still lives on to see that no person is needlessly blind

Logo for The Foundation. Photo by The Fred Hollows Foundation-

Today, The Fred Hollows Foundation works tirelessly in more than 25 countries to achieve Fred’s vision of a world where no person is needlessly blind.

 Inspired by Fred’s legacy, The Foundation has successfully restored sight to millions of people around the world, and – inspired by Fred – we won’t stop until avoidable blindness is a thing of the past.