How can surgery be performed for so little money in developing countries?
One of the biggest cost components of modern cataract surgery is the intraocular lens – Fred Hollows used to refer to them as “the most expensive pieces of plastic in the world”. The Foundation supported the establishment of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Nepal and Eritrea in 1994, which enable the production of IOLs at minimum cost. Both of these laboratories are now locally managed and independent. By manufacturing high quality, low cost IOLs and finding other ways to minimise the cost of consumables and surgical equipment, The Foundation has helped to make cataract surgery affordable to the most disadvantaged communities in developing countries.
