Give the Gift of Sight to People Like Uncle Jimmy

Fred was outraged by the disparity in eye health in Australia. In his day, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples were 10 times more likely to be blind than other Australians. Thanks to supporters like you, that gap has narrowed to three times—but there’s still more to do. Will you help restore sight and finally close the gap completely?

Sight, Storytelling, and Strength—Uncle Jimmy’s return

“I’m me again,” Uncle Jimmy says with a beaming smile, adjusting his new glasses. After years of living in a hazy, smoky world, his vision has been restored—and so has his love for life.

For almost a decade, Uncle Jimmy, a 69-year-old Yolngu elder, struggled with what he called 'smoky eye,' unable to read his beloved books or enjoy the simple joys of everyday life. Once an avid reader and the go-to storyteller in his community, he lost confidence and grew frustrated as cataracts dimmed his world.

But thanks to kind-hearted supporters like you, Uncle Jimmy’s story doesn’t end there.

The Day Uncle Jimmy Got His Sight Back

When Uncle Jimmy walked into a vision centre in Darwin, his life began to change. Diagnosed with cataracts, he underwent two surgeries performed by Australia’s first Indigenous ophthalmologist, Associate Professor Dr Kris Rallah-Baker. The surgeries not only gave him back his sight but also restored his spirit.

Now, Uncle Jimmy is spreading the word in his community about the importance of eye health, encouraging others not to fear surgery. “It’s only one day at the hospital. Don’t be scared—get your eyes checked,” he says with pride.

The Need is Urgent

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face a crisis in eye health.

Barriers like long wait times, cultural inaccessibility, and a lack of services mean far too many people are missing out on sight-restoring care. But together, we can change that.

A Crisis in Eye Health

Blindness and vision loss are three times more common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults than other Australians.

Too Many Missing Out

Over one-third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have never had an eye exam.

Longer Waits, Worse Outcomes

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wait almost 40% longer for cataract surgery, even though blinding cataract is 12 times more common than for other Australians.

Breaking Barriers in Eye Health

Dr Kris Rallah-Baker is Australia’s first Aboriginal ophthalmologist—a Warangu, Yuggera, and Wiradjuri man who has dedicated his career to improving eye health for First Nations Peoples.

Inspired by Fred Hollows’ legacy, Dr Kris overcame significant barriers to enter ophthalmology, a path made possible with support from The Fred Hollows Foundation. Now, he is paving the way for the next generation of First Nations eye doctors.

“Fred Hollows was a true ally. He understood that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples needed to be at the centre of efforts to improve eye health,” says Dr Kris Rallah-Baker.

Dr Kris knows firsthand the challenges his patients face. From long wait times to navigating complex referral systems, the barriers to treatment remain high. That’s why The Foundation supports training programs to ensure First Nations doctors, nurses, and health workers can provide culturally safe, community-led eye care. This year, Dr Kris will be joined by four new Aboriginal ophthalmologists who are graduating soon—an incredible milestone in closing the gap in eye health.

Your support brings sight-saving care to people who need it most.

Sight-restoring surgeries for people like Uncle Jimmy
Culturally safe eye care delivered by Aboriginal-led organisations
Training for First Nations eye health workers and doctors

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It All Started With Fred

Fred Hollows with an Indigenous patient during the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program in the 1970s.

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

In 1968, Fred Hollows was in his Sydney eye clinic when two Gurindji Elders walked in with eye conditions he’d never seen before. After treating them, he was invited to Wattie Creek in the Northern Territory, where he saw firsthand the devastating impact of trachoma—something he hadn’t imagined still existed in modern Australia. Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.

Fred was outraged. He knew something had to change.

Taking Action: The National Trachoma Program

Fred operating on a patient in a makeshift hospital, with the outback's red sand beneath his feet.

Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation

Determined to act, Fred led a team of eye health workers—including Aboriginal health workers—on the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program (1976–1978). Together, they reached over 100,000 people in 465 remote communities, cutting the rate of blindness in half for Aboriginal Peoples. His approach—ensuring First Nations Peoples were at the heart of the solution—became the foundation of our work today.

Carry on Fred's vision

A Legacy That Lives On

The Fred Hollows Foundation continues Fred's legacy, working in partnership with First Nations-led health services to deliver culturally safe, community-driven eye care.

With your help this year, we will continue Fred Hollows legacy: