The Foundation’s programs in Nepal
Fred Hollows and Dr Sanduk Ruit met in Nepal in the mid ‘80s while Fred was consulting for the World Health Organisation.
They soon realised they shared a common dream: to end avoidable blindness in developing countries through introducing modern surgery techniques.
Fred and Dr Ruit set about planning to build an intraocular lens factory to mass-produce these vital lenses needed for cataract surgery. They knew producing them locally would bring the cost down significantly.
Fred became Dr Ruit’s mentor, and after studying with Fred in Sydney, Dr Ruit went on to help establish the Fred Hollows Intraocular Lens Laboratory with the help of The Foundation.
In 1994, the same year the factory opened, Dr Ruit became the medical director of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Nepal – a key partner of The Foundation. It’s now a world-class facility and is still led by master surgeon Dr Ruit, who has restored sight to over 120,000 people.
We work very closely with the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology to train eye care personnel, build facilities, conduct community outreach clinics, and implement eye health programs that have made a real difference to people’s lives.