Dr Irene Freed completed her medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2008 and began her career at Tygerberg Hospital, later moving to Saldanha Sickbay, where she served in the military. Her passion for ophthalmology was sparked during an outreach clinic in the Western Cape in 2011.

She joined St John’s Eye Hospital in 2012 and entered the ophthalmology registrar program in 2014. Dr Freed trained under several renowned specialists and qualified as an ophthalmologist through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa in 2017. She has been in private practice since 2018.

Dr Freed has a special interest in medical retina conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. She is also trained in aesthetic treatments, including botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, which she has performed since 2011.