Innovation, Research and Technology

The Foundation works in some of the poorest and most isolated regions in developing countries and in Australia.

These difficult environments present many challenges such as poor transport options, a lack of health information, a shortage of equipment and surgical consumables and in many cases, an unreliable power supply.

Overcoming these challenges requires a commitment to innovative thinking, a willingness to take risks and a determination that change for the better can be made.

Over the past 15 years we have worked closely with local partners to find innovative solutions that complement and build on our partners existing knowledge and resources.

With our partners we have:

• Designed innovative technologies to overcome the problems of performing cataract surgery in remote locations and reduce the cost of surgical supplies, particularly intraocular lenses;
• Developed new surgical techniques and patient management systems;
• Initiated and coordinated several major research studies within Indigenous Australia and our eye health programs to enure that we have the best possible information on which to base our program plans and activities.

Together with our partners, The Foundation has developed some ground-breaking innovations including:

• Local manufacture of intraocular lenses (used in cataract surgery) in Eritrea and Nepal, including a foldable IOL. Find out more about the IOL laboratories.
• Development of the Fred Hollows 2000 Lathe for the manufacture of IOLs to significantly boost the volume produced by the IOL laboratories and improve the product finish.
• Design of lightweight, affordable and portable ophthalmic equipment, suitable for use in remote locations and mobile eye camps – includes the Fred Hollows Microscope and Fred Hollows Nd YAG ophthalmic laser.
• Use of standardised production line surgical techniques to maximise the number of people treated in hospitals and remote locations.
• The ‘sutureless’ small incision cataract surgical technique, a safer and faster way to perform cataract surgery, developed by Dr Sanduk Ruit, long term partner of The Foundation.
• A computerised Eye Health Information Management System to integrate patient data across hospital departments and enable statistical analysis of information. This system has been introduced in Cambodia and Vietnam.

The Foundation has initiated and conducted many significant and informative research studies including:

Rwanda

In June 2006 a prevalence survey using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology
was undertaken in the Western Province of Rwanda.

This research was undertaken as a partnership between the Ministry of Health in Rwanda and Fred Hollows Eastern Africa (based in neighbouring Kenya), and led by The Fred Hollows Foundation's Regional Medical Advisor, Dr Ciku Mathenge. The findings informed the design of a new blindness prevention program.

Eritrea

During the last quarter of 2006 The Fred Hollows Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry
of Health and the World Health Organization, conducted a trachoma prevalence survey in order
to inform the planning of a proposed National Trachoma Control Program in Eritrea to begin
in 2007.

Australia

Planning and preparation for a community-based research project to address anaemia and iron
deficiency in selected Indigenous communities was finalised in 2006. This project is currently underway as a partnership between Sunrise Health Service, Katherine West Health Board, Anmatjere Health Board, The Fred Hollows Foundation, UNICEF and the Northern Territory Government.

Equipment Survey

The World Health Organization estimates more than half of the medical equipment in health
facilities in developing countries is not functioning.

To determine the status and usefulness of the ophthalmic equipment used in The Fred Hollows Foundation's programs, we surveyed ophthalmic equipment (excluding surgical hand instruments) supplied to eight international programs between 2000-2005.

Results show that The Foundation's performance is better than the norm. Around 95% of equipment is functional, frequently used and effectively assisting efforts to reduce avoidable blindness.

Our Strategic Framework for the coming years outlines our commitment to:

• Monitor, measure and report on the impact of the work that we do;
• Build our research capacity.

Find out further information about: 

> The Achievements of The Fred Hollows Foundation and its partners.

> Strategic Framework 2006-2010