Feeling very fortunate to visit The Fred Hollows Intraocular Lens Laboratory, a world-class intraocular lens manufacturing facility managed by Nepal Eye Program, Tilgagna Institute of Ophthalmology.

An "intraocular lens" literally means a lens placed inside the eye to replace the natural lens of the eye affected by cataract with a microsurgical procedure called cataract surgery. During surgery, the eye gains a synthetic lens that is unclouded by cataract.

Producing low-cost IOLs and finding other ways to minimise the cost of consumables and surgical equipment was Fred Hollows’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/) and Prof Sanduk Ruit’s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanduk_Ruit) vision.

Their hard work made cataract surgery affordable in many disadvantaged communities around the globe. These amazing pieces of plastic are the reason The Himalayan Cataract Program (co-founded by Prof Ruin and Prof Rabin, from Stanford University) can perform cataract operation for as little as $25.

What’s more, the IOL factories (the second Fred Hollows IOL Lab is located in Asmara. Eritrea is the only country on the African continent with technology that produces Intraocular lenses) provide a world-class, high-technology manufacturing base, generating global export opportunities for Nepal and Eritrea.

To learn more or support the mission to eradicate avoidable blindness, please visit https://www.cureblindness.org/ or bairexmedical.com