Vision for Life Institute Launches Global Eyecare Partnership with Fred Hollows Foundation
A Queensland-based ophthalmology practice has committed to donating $100 for every cataract surgery it performs to support sight-restoring programs in developing nations, in what's being positioned as a potential blueprint for private sector engagement in global eye health equity.
Vision for Life Institute (VFLI) announced its three-year partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation in January 2026, creating a direct link between its Australian clinical practice and eye health programs operating across more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Under the "Eye for an Eye" initiative, donations generated from VFLI's cataract surgery volume will fund sight-saving surgeries, treatments, and clinical training programs designed to strengthen local health systems in low-resource settings.
Ross Piper, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to universal access to quality eye health care.
“The partnership between The Fred Hollows Foundation and Vision for Life Institute is grounded in a shared belief that everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to quality eye health care,” said Mr. Piper. “This initiative reflects Professor Fred Hollows’ belief that everyone everywhere deserves the right to sight. Vision for Life’s generosity will help us restore sight, train more doctors, and strengthen health systems so that communities can care for their own eye health.”
The partnership extends beyond direct surgical funding to encompass capacity building for local health workers and advocacy for more equitable health systems.
“We both hope that this initiative will inspire other like-minded organisations to join the movement to end avoidable blindness worldwide. For every surgery performed at Vision for Life Institute, a brighter future becomes possible for someone in need,” Mr. Piper said.
The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to more than 3 million people globally and delivered over 100 million doses of trachoma antibiotics. The organisation works with local health partners to address cataract, refractive error, diabetic retinopathy, and trachoma elimination.
VFLI operates specialist ophthalmology clinics in Mt Gravatt, Hervey Bay, and Loganholme, offering services including cataract surgery, laser eye surgery, retinal surgery, intravitreal injections, glaucoma surgery, and eyelid procedures.
