Specsavers has unveiled a new range of stylish limited-edition frames in collaboration with Ernabella artist and Pitjantjatjara woman Atipalku Intjalki to support the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation's Indigenous Australia Program.
The collection — which marks 15 years of partnership and 10 artist collaborations — holds particular significance, marking a return to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, where the first artist collaboration with Langaliki began.
It was in the APY Lands where Fred Hollows dedicated some of his earliest efforts to eliminating trachoma, establishing a legacy which continues today through long-standing relationships with Anangu communities and organisations, including Nganampa Health Council.
At the heart of this year's collection is Intjalki's artwork, Tjukurpa Mulayangu.
Drawing on more than five decades of artistic practice, Intjalki brings to life a powerful narrative deeply rooted in her connection to Country. Her vibrant design portrays her father's Country, featuring tjanpi (native grass) and numerous tjukula (waterholes).
Central to the story is Mulayangu, a wanampi (water snake) whose journey across the APY Lands is said to have created the rockholes that sustain life in the region.
Through this work, Intjalki reflects on generations of shared heritage, weaving together ancestral storytelling, landscape, and enduring cultural connection.
"For 50 years, I have made art here in the middle of my community. I paint my father's Country to keep his story alive," said Intjalki said.
"It's really lovely to see my artwork on the Specsavers frames. I make my work inside the Ernabella Art Centre, and when I walk outside I see the people in my community and I feel connected to my Country.
"I'm happy that everyone, including my family, can see the work I make and the stories I'm telling through this partnership."
The ongoing work comes at a significant moment for Australian eye health, following the recent declaration from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.
The condition was once a leading cause of preventable vision loss among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Together, Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation are working to help close the gap in eye health by enhancing access to essential eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
In 2025, funds raised through the partnership helped support The Fred Hollows Foundation's Indigenous Australia Program to screen more than 24,000 people, deliver over 330 surgeries, and provide 3,600 diabetic retinopathy treatments.
"This year's collection translates Atipalku's artistic storytelling directly onto the frames, which have been designed and manufactured using sustainable materials," Specsavers Frame Portfolio manager Joanna Poon said.
"The result is a collection that blends contemporary eyewear design with a strong artistic influence, offering something bothfunctional and visually unique."
Specsavers head of Sustainability, Cathy Rennie Matos, said: "Through this collaboration, we're continuing our commitment to improving access to eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and supporting work that helps close the gap in preventable vision loss."
Fred Hollows Foundation Indigenous Australia program director, Tanya Morris, also commented on Specsavers' commitment to strengthening access to eye care for First Nations peoples.
"Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can benefit from timely access to eye care, with much vision loss being preventable or treatable through culturally responsive services and strong community-led approaches," she said,
"The recent WHO declaration that Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem is an important milestone for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and a reminder of what long-term partnership and community-led care can achieve.
"Support from partners like Specsavers helps strengthen access to eye care, enabling more people to maintain good vision and continue participating fully in their families, communities and cultures."
Intjalki has given permission for her artwork 'Tjukurpa Mulayangu' to be transferred to the frames, with $25 from each pair sold donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The limited-edition frames are now available to purchase for $199 AUD exclusively at Specsavers, in-store and online. Each pair comes with a collector's case and cleaning cloth featuring Intjalki's design.
It is estimated one in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults has never had an eye test despite being three times more likely to experience vision impairment or blindness than non-Indigenous Australians. The figure is one Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation are aiming to change.
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