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Simul Can Play

April 05, 2017

Four-year-old Simul has had a very difficult childhood. His mother and father left him when he was only a small baby, and he was raised by his grandmother. At an early age, he began to have difficulty seeing. His grandmother heard about an eye health outreach program happening in their town and took Simul to be examined.

Dr Elethia Dean

June 11, 2018

Nursing Certification, Consultant, ASC Compliant LLC.

Planned Giving

April 03, 2018

Make a gift today—leave a legacy for tomorrow.

Changing the way the world sees

April 17, 2018

Thanks to your support, we're always on the lookout for new ways to use technology to help build the skills of eye teams in communities around the world. By constantly innovating, we're able to reach more people - more efficiently - than ever before

yycchinatownleague

May 09, 2018

International Nurses Day: A Cause Worth Celebrating

May 10, 2018

Every day it seems we are celebrating some kind of 'national' or 'international' day, whether it’s National Eraser Day, or International Wiggle Your Toes Day. But once in a while, there's a day that is truly worth honouring. Saturday, May 12 is International Nurses Day - a day when we thank nurses everywhere for all that they do.

Plane Pull for Sight Toronto Sets a Record

May 28, 2018

On Sunday, May 27, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Plane Pull for Sight Toronto by raising a record-breaking $88,409 (and counting) - the highest fundraising total in the history of the event!

Dr William Dean

June 11, 2018

Clinical Research Fellow, International Center for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Dr Michael Vrabec

June 11, 2018

Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology

Orbis Canada Plane Pull for Sight Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Toronto

March 29, 2018

The Orbis Canada Plane Pull for Sight celebrates its 10th anniversary in Toronto on Sunday, May 27, followed by events in Calgary on Saturday, June 16 and Vancouver on Sunday, June 24.

Dr Rudy Wagner

June 11, 2018

Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Dr Kakarla V. Chalam

June 11, 2018

Professor & Director of Retina, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California.

Dr Nathan Schwarts

June 11, 2018

Red Lion Surgery Center, Philadelphia

Dr Alessia Adduci

June 11, 2018

Faculty Department of Anesthesia & Intensive Care, Catholic University of Rome

Dr Elizabeth Castro

June 11, 2018

Technical Support Specialist, Alco Laboratories Inc. California.

Flying Eye Hospital Program wraps up in Barbados

June 11, 2018

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital leaves Barbados after a successful two-week training program helping to improve eye care across the Caribbean.

Orbis launches BOOST app in collaboration with partners

June 18, 2018

We are excited to announce the launch of a brand new app developed with some amazing partners designed to help measure, analyze and improve success rates in cataract surgery. The free app is a brilliant example of how the sector can come together and use the latest technology to help change the way the world sees.

Flying Eye Hospital lands in Peru

April 03, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital has touched down in Trujillo, Peru, for a three-week training program to help strengthen the skills of eye teams all across the region.

Orbis featured on CBS show 'The Doctors'

March 12, 2018

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital and star Volunteer Faculty member, Rudy Wagner, have been featured on the daily talk show 'The Doctors'. Make sure to give it a watch and share it with your friends.

Saving Sight for the Rohingya People in Bangladesh

June 20, 2018

Today - on World Refugee Day - Orbis Canada is proud to announce a new partnership with OBAT Canada that will help provide critically needed eye care for the Roynigya people in Bangladesh - a country in which more than 34.3 million people are already suffering from blindness or visual impairment.

David regained his sight and his scoring touch

December 05, 2017

It was almost too late for David. But thanks to your support, he received the necessary treatment before it was too late!

Donner Canadian Foundation

November 03, 2017

The Donner Canadian Foundation is a long-standing partner of Orbis and a key supporter of the multi-year National Childhood Blindness Project in Bangladesh.

Flying Eye Hospital arrives in Bangladesh

November 17, 2017

The Flying Eye Hospital has arrived in Bangladesh on the final leg of its 2017 tour. Its goal – to raise awareness of the issue of childhood blindness and train local eye teams in the latest technological advancements.

Asegedech Gets Her future Back

November 20, 2017

Asegedech lives n Ethiopia and for two years she suffered the pain and discomfort of the life-destroying eye disease, trachoma before she was reached by Orbis.

Meet Suhati

November 21, 2017

Yesterday marked Universal Children's Day – a moment to remember the rights of children such as access to healthcare, and education.

Countess of Wessex Visits the Flying Eye Hospital

November 21, 2017

The Countess of Wessex visited the Flying Eye Hospital and our partner hospital - the Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute - during her tour of Bangladesh to help raise awareness of avoidable blindness.

CNBC Features the Flying Eye Hospital

November 29, 2017

CNBC covered our Flying Eye Hospital in an online segment featuring a video and story.

CNN step on board the Flying Eye Hospital

December 06, 2017

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta steps on board the our amazing Flying Eye Hospital during its recent visit to Cameroon. The three part series can be watched below. A big thanks to CNN and everyone who made the this possible.

One Woman Changed the Way the Hospital Sees Quality and Management

March 07, 2018

In February 2018, Elaine and Jasmine from the Singapore office visited some program partners in India and Bangladesh. Here, Jasmine shares about one of our program partners in Kolkata, India.

Where Will We Go in 2018?

January 18, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital crew is ready and excited for another exciting year on board our unique aircraft. In the upcoming 2018 year, we will be on three continents for a total of 15 weeks of training!

How to fight blindness, poverty and gender inequality in Bangladesh

January 30, 2018

Thanks to our amazing supporters and our partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Creating Vision – we’re excited to tell you about the recently opened Singra Vision Center in Bangladesh .

In photos: How Honorine is living life again after her eye surgery

January 31, 2018

Six weeks after a successful surgery on our Flying Eye Hospital to treat a painful cataract in her left eye, we paid a visit to see grandmother-of-four Honorine, 60, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to find out how she was getting on.

COLLINS AEROSPACE

February 12, 2018

General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer - Manu G. Nathan

February 14, 2018

Manu G. Nathan joined Orbis International in 2017 and manages the organization’s legal, compliance, and governance initiatives.

Chief, Global Communications and Marketing - Louise Harris

February 14, 2018

Louise Harris joined Orbis International in 2017 and leads the organization’s marketing and communications strategies and programs.

Pullforsight.ca

February 15, 2018

Plane Pull for Sight Calgary Fundraising Soars

June 18, 2018

On Saturday, June 16, Plane Pull for Sight returned to Calgary, setting a new high for fundraising with over $37,700 (and counting) raised.

Syrian refugee regains eyesight after surgery in Canada

July 09, 2018

Syrian refugee, Anas Schichmouse, regained his eyesight after undergoing successful surgery at the skilled hands of Canadian ophthalmologist and long-time Orbis Volunteer Faculty, Dr. Simon Holland.

Orbis Completes Program in Cameroon

October 12, 2017

Over the last few weeks, Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital was in Cameroon, a country with one of the highest prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in the world.

Technology & Innovation

March 01, 2019

With avoidable blindness set to triple by 2050, we need to reverse the trend before it’s too late. The old way simply isn’t working. We need to push boundaries and lead from the front of eye health innovation now, if we’re going to help ensure a brighter tomorrow.

Birketo can see his grandson again

December 10, 2018

As we’re celebrating two decades of sight-saving work in Ethiopia we’re sharing stories of the lives being transformed thanks to the Orbis family. One of the people we caught up with is Birketo. He was almost totally blind for three years but thanks to an Orbis-sponsored cataract program he can now see again.

Meet the bear with the best job ever!

December 19, 2018

Our volunteers fly all over the world to fight avoidable blindness. But, while they’re giving the gift of sight, there’s a particularly fluffy member of our team making a different kind of impact…

What's in your eye?

December 20, 2018

The human eye is an amazing organ! Let’s take an in-sight-ful look at what’s actually happening inside your eye. Warning: this article couldn’t be cornea... see what we did there?

EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THE FLYING EYE HOSPITAL

January 07, 2019

For more than 35 years, the Flying Eye Hospital has been at the cutting edge of aviation, technology and change – bringing vital eye care to thousands of people worldwide.

Vote for Flying Eye Hospital Chief Pilot, Gary Dyson

February 14, 2019

We’re delighted to announce that our Chief Pilot, Captain Gary Dyson, has been nominated for an Endeavor Award. This prestigious award recognizes pilots who go above and beyond and give back to their communities through volunteering.

New Diabetic Retinopathy Program Launched in Bangladesh

February 21, 2019

A staggering one-third of 10 million diabetics in Bangladesh risk going blind because so many sufferers go undiagnosed. A new project in the Gopalganj district - unveiled by our CEO Bob Ranck - is dedicated to combating an explosion of blindness caused by diabetes.

Orbis Chief Pilot Gary Dyson Wins Endeavor Award

March 04, 2019

We’re thrilled to announce our wonderful Flying Eye Hospital Chief Pilot, Gary Dyson, has won an Endeavor Award. The award recognizes pilots who go above and beyond to transform lives by volunteering their time and skills to good causes.

WORLD DIABETES DAY: THE HIDDEN RISK OF BLINDNESS

November 13, 2018

14th November is World Diabetes Day and we’re shining a spotlight on the role that the Orbis family is playing in tackling one of the fastest growing causes of avoidable blindness – diabetic retinopathy.

Peter Gilgan Foundation

March 05, 2019

Thanks to the Peter Gilgan Foundation, Orbis will establish the first-ever retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening, treatment and referral service network in Bangladesh’s Chittagong and Rangpur Divisions, helping move another step closer to a national network of high-quality ROP services across the country.

Meet the Women Fighting Blindness in Bangladesh

March 07, 2019

The Singra Vision Center in Bangladesh is a unique place to go for eye care. It’s successfully run by three hardworking and dedicated eye health professionals who are all women in their 20s.

Helping Women Fight Trachoma in Ethiopia

March 07, 2019

We recently celebrated our 20th anniversary working in Ethiopia. For the past two decades, we've been part of the international consortium leading the global effort to eliminate blinding trachoma, an infectious disease that disproportionately affects women.

The Women Fighting Blindness in Zambia

March 07, 2019

In 2015, we conducted a research initiative to investigate why fewer women than men were accessing cataract surgical treatment in the Northwest province.

International Women's Day: Meet Orbis hero Valerie Suberg

March 07, 2019

In honor of International Women's Day we're delighted to introduce you to a vital member of the Orbis family - Valerie Suberg - our Senior Manager of Aircraft Maintenance. Without this incredible woman, our Flying Eye Hospital would never get off the ground - literally.

A Life Dedicated to Fighting Blindness in Mongolia

March 07, 2019

As one of the most qualified cataract ophthalmologists in Mongolia, Dr. Enkhutshin's work ethic is pretty inspiring. With the country's cataract rates so high and a cataract surgical rate the lowest in Asia, she's committed to fighting blindness in her country by sharing eye care skills with local eye care teams.

Women & Girls

March 07, 2019

Did you know there is a gender gap in blindness? 55% of people who are visually impaired are women. Below, we explore the reasons behind this injustice and profile some of the women who are doing something about it. After all, a brighter future for women is a brighter future for the planet.

OBAT Canada

December 03, 2018

In 2018, Orbis Canada received a matching pledge from OBAT Canada that will provide more than 1,300 eye surgeries, laser treatments and other sight-saving procedures to help ensure that no Rohingya man, woman or child loses their sight to a treatable or preventable condition.

Orbis saved my sight - twice

November 06, 2018

To celebrate two decades of sight-saving work in Ethiopia we’re sharing stories of the lives being transformed thanks to the Orbis family. One woman, who is no stranger to our sight-saving work is Obito. Eight years ago, she underwent surgery to treat trachoma trichiasis (TT) - a painful blinding disease. Unfortunately, she has caught it again.

Mongolia

July 12, 2018

In Mongolia, access to high quality, affordable eye care services is limited in both urban and rural areas. Lack of equipment, training and infrastructure are major barriers to adequate care and there is no comprehensive framework to treat children’s eye disease.

Canadian Volunteer Faculty member, Dr. Simon Holland, wins Prestigious Award

October 02, 2018

Longtime Canadian Orbis Volunteer Faculty member, Dr. Simon Holland, is the recipient of the prestigious Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada's 2018 Mentor of the Year Award, Region 1.

Celebrating 20 Years of Fighting Blindness in Ethiopia

July 31, 2018

We’re proud to announce a huge milestone – we’re now celebrating 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia. Our Addis Ababa office was officially registered in 1998 and became our very first program office outside the US.

Glasses study shows huge productivity boost for workers

July 23, 2018

A landmark study, published today in The Lancet Global Health, showcases how a simple pair of glasses can boost workers’ productivity and reduce poverty.

Become a Partner in Sight

August 25, 2018

We're excited to announce the launch of our new monthly giving program, PARTNERS IN SIGHT. Sign up today and join us in our global effort to end avoidable blindness.

Tackling trachoma in Ethiopia: a World Water Week update

August 28, 2018

​This year, Orbis is celebrating 20 years of eye health development in Ethiopia, ensuring that people are able to access the eye care they deserve.

Orbis and Visulytix Collaborate on New AI Technology

September 10, 2018

A new collaboration brings together our telemedicine platform, Cybersight, and an artificial intelligence technology to help fight avoidable blindness and change the way the world sees.

Mongolia: Flying Eye Hospital wrap-up

September 18, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital left Mongolia earlier this month following the completion of another memorable and successful project. This three-week project was the eighth time the Flying Eye Hospital was in Ulaanbaatar and it lived up to its reputation for being one of the most distinct, hospitable and special project locations.

Flying Eye Hospital lands in Ethiopia for World Sight Day

October 05, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Ethiopia ️to celebrate World Sight Day and our 20th anniversary of saving sight in the country. We'll be working alongside our partners - the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia - to conduct a three-week training program to improve the skills of local eye care teams.

INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: 20 YEARS IN ETHIOPIA

November 02, 2018

We're celebrating 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia. Take a moment to scroll through the highlights from this amazing milestone. A big thank you to all our wonderful staff, partners and volunteers, without whom, none of this would be possible.

World Sight Day 2018 - #WhyICare

October 08, 2018

Thursday, October 11 is World Sight Day 2018 and we're taking the opportunity to ask our supporters and partners to tell us why they care about eye care - #WhyICare.

NEW BOOK RAISES AWARENESS OF VISION LOSS AMONG CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA

October 12, 2018

A free illustrated storybook, ‘The Singing Tree’, designed to encourage school children to seek help if their vision is poor, has been launched in Ethiopia.

MANDIDO CAN SUPPORT HER FAMILY AGAIN

October 14, 2018

Mandido has lived with trachoma for the past three years, which has had a profound effect on her ability to work and support her family. Her husband suffers from a chronic illness and is unable to work meaning the 50-year-old grandma’s sight is crucial for their future.

TACKLING TRACHOMA IN ETHIOPIA: SCHOOL EYE CARE CLUBS

October 17, 2018

This year marks 20 years of sight-saving work in Ethiopia. One of the many life-changing initiatives we have been spearheading in the country to improve eye care and vision loss, is treating and preventing the spread of trachoma in schools.

Abiyot's story: Making an impact on an entire community

October 19, 2018

Thanks to our amazing partners and supporters we've been transforming lives in Ethiopia for 20 years. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate the important role played by members of the Orbis family. This is the story of Abiyot - an Integrated Eye Care Workers (IECW) - based in Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: Flying Eye Hospital program wrap-up

October 29, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital and our family of staff, crew and Volunteer Faculty have completed a hugely successful and energizing three-week program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

New eLearning course launched in modern cataract surgery

October 30, 2018

We’re delighted to announce that a new e-learning course in Phacoemulsification - recognized as the gold-standard in cataract surgery – has been rolled out across our award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight.

BBC in Cameroon

October 13, 2017

The BBC World News released a segment on World Sight Day about our Flying Eye Hospital efforts in Cameroon. The segment covers a patient success story, our first ever use of virtual reality goggles and dives further into our work in Cameroon.

World Sight Day Campaign

October 12, 2017

Fighting Childhood Blindness in Vietnam

May 19, 2017

Standard Chartered Bank

July 27, 2017

Standard Chartered supports Orbis’s “Seeing Is Believing” global community fundraising project which aims to serve China's blind population.

Your support helped Kingsley see again

July 26, 2017

Two-year-old Kingsley developed bilateral congenital cataracts shortly after birth. His mother noticed he had difficulty opening his eyes in daylight. She didn’t realize though that this was the result of a serious condition until he developed a white spot in his right eye at age one.

FedEx

July 26, 2017

For more than 30 years, FedEx has played an indispensable role in helping Orbis achieve its vision of a world in which no one is needlessly blind.

Fondation L’Occitane

July 27, 2017

With a long history of corporate social responsibility,Fondation L'OCCITANE is committed to fighting avoidable blindness around the world.

OMEGA

July 27, 2017

OMEGA announced its Global Corporate Partnership with Orbis in January 2011.

Pfizer

July 27, 2017

The Pfizer-Orbis relationship dates back to 1979, three years before Orbis's first sight-saving flight, when Pfizer began supporting Orbis through cash grants and donations of medical supplies.

Jebsen

July 27, 2017

Jebsen generously partners with Orbis to build up a training, screening and referring eye care network covering hospitals and clinics in the rural area of China.

AAAASFI

July 27, 2017

AAAASFI’s accreditation programs standardize and improve the quality of medical and surgical care.

Creating access to eye care for children like Sharmila

May 30, 2017

Limited access to quality eye care is a global issue that affects millions due to lack of transportation, inability to cover expenses or lack of education about where to receive help. Siblings Sharmila and Naveen were losing their sight due to severe cataracts, and the nearest hospital available for surgery was located in another city.

Avoidable Blindness

July 28, 2017

Imagine losing your sight in one of the poorest regions in the world. Where would you turn for help? With very few skilled eye doctors or quality medical centres, your chances of receiving the right kind of care are minimal. As your sight gets worse, your chances of getting an education, earning a steady income, or caring for your family evaporate.

Orbis and the Global Goals

July 28, 2017

In September 2015, 193 countries adopted a set of ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all.

What We Do

July 28, 2017

With your help, we can ensure everyone has access to quality eye care, no matter where they live.

Country Programs

July 28, 2017

By working with partners across the health service to establish and strengthen existing care, we help provide long-term, sustainable eye care to communities around the world. From rural areas to bustling cities, we aim to provide the tools and knowledge to help restore vision for generations to come.

Flying Eye Hospital

July 28, 2017

As the world's only Flying Eye Hospital, it's unlike any plane you’ve ever seen before. A state-of-the-art teaching facility complete with operating room, classroom, and recovery room - this amazing aircraft has been an example of the alliance between medicine and aviation since 1982.

Cybersight

July 28, 2017

Cybersight is our award-winning telemedicine platform. Through Cybersight, our expert volunteers teach and support eye care teams around the world using the latest advancements in internet and mobile technologies.

Volunteer Faculty

July 28, 2017

Our world renowned Volunteer Faculty are the heartbeat of our training programs around the world. For more than 30 years, the keystone of Orbis work has been to teach and train eye health professionals to prevent and treat avoidable blindness.

Alcon Foundation

July 26, 2017

You've given Shunwen hope for a brighter future

July 26, 2017

Sporting a pink sweater and holding the hand of her legal guardian, seven-year-old Shunwen Wang smiles when spoken to and easily breaks into giggles. She exhibits the hallmark signs of having limited or distorted vision: eyes not responding to motion, yet darting erratically to track the location of sounds and voices in her immediate vicinity.

Community Outreach

July 28, 2017

We want to make sure everyone has access to quality eye care, no matter where they live. This is why, as well as strengthening and equipping local hospitals, we work at a community level - training and educating people about eye health to ensure even the most remote areas receive the best possible treatment.

Aylito gets her sight back

June 16, 2017

Aylito lives in Ethiopia and has been blind in one eye since the age of six. She suffered from trichiasis, a painful eye condition, that threatened sight in her other eye. Unaware of available treatment options, Aylito lived with the impending possibility of losing her vision completely and the fear of not being able to take care of her family.

Your donations saved Jefferson's sight

May 30, 2017

Nine-year-old Jefferson suffered from strabismus, or a misalignment of his eyes, his entire life. Left untreated, he would go blind. Thanks to your donations, an Orbis-trained doctor at his local hospital was able to perform a surgery to correct the strabismus, giving Jefferson a new lease on life.

Krish now has a future, thanks to you

May 30, 2017

Without your support, Krish would be blind today. Seven-year-old Krish began going blind the moment he was born. Cataracts threatened to resign him to a life of darkness and poverty in Nepal.

Muntare and her neighbors

May 30, 2017

Muntare is a respected and highly influential woman in her community but, for some time, has been leading a lonely and isolated life. Her husband passed away a few years ago and all of her children are now married.